MORE struggling families in Runcorn will be helped by the town’s foodbank thanks to a generous donation.

Anwyl Group has donated more than £3,300 to Runcorn Foodbank with support from its suppliers and contractors.

The Flintshire-based family business marked its 90th anniversary by boosting the coffers of the foodbank, which is located close to the firm’s Halton Court 119-unit residential development.

The donation is one of 16 for the same amount being made by Anwyl Group to foodbanks within the Trussell Trust network across its operational areas of north Wales, Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire, totalling more than £53,000.

Half of the money was raised through ticket sales for Anwyl’s anniversary celebration event, which sadly had to be cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.

Fortunately, many of the company’s generous suppliers, partners and subcontractors agreed to donate their ticket value to ensure the funds still reached The Trussell Trust, working to end hunger and poverty in the UK.

Anwyl Group then matched the total raised by donating a further £26,855.

Chairman Graham Anwyl said: “We were disappointed when our 90th anniversary charity dinner could not go ahead.

“While the event had been billed as a birthday celebration, we had always hoped that we could raise lots of money for charity too.

“In planning this event, we could not have foreseen the enormous impact that the coronavirus pandemic would have this past year on all of our lives.

“Charities in particular have suffered hugely, and with the help of so many of the companies we work with, we are delighted to be able to donate this tremendous amount to The Trussell Trust, which is working to end hunger in the UK.”

Samantha Stapley, chief operating officer at the Trussell Trust, added: “Thank you to Anwyl Group for their support.

“As the pandemic continues, more people are likely to need a food bank’s help, and teams are working tirelessly to ensure help continues to be available.

“But ultimately, no one in the UK should need a food bank as all of us should have enough money for the essentials.

“The support of Anwyl Group will help food banks within our network continue to provide the lifeline of emergency support for local people in crisis, while we work in the long term to build a hunger free future.”