AN organisation which has backed the Post's Five Tons of Tins campaign from the start has already filled four collection boxes to help hungry families.
The Workers' Educational Association, Mapperley Road, Mapperley Park, is well on the way to achieving its aim of collecting one box of tins for each of Nottingham's seven food banks by Christmas.
WEA course organiser Nicky Cleaver, 56, said: "Our collection is going really well. We have been getting staff to bring tins in for just over a month and we have now filled four collection boxes.
"Our aim is to fill at least another three of four, so that we can give one box to each of the seven food banks. We have loads of stuff from rice to pasta, to all sorts of tins. It is something we very much support."
Her colleague Marina Corah, a programme administrator at the WEA, added that it was vital children did not go without at Christmas.
She said: "We backed the Post's campaign because we thought it doesn't take much to put an extra tin or two in your shopping trolley. And those tins can really help families in need.
"In this day and age, in such a technological world, I can't believe children are going hungry. It is vital that kiddies go to school with something warm in their tummy and come home to a meal. We hope our collection helps."
Christina Rowson, 28, Slimming World consultant for the Sneinton group, said their tin collection was going well.
The group, which has about 50 members, meets on Tuesdays in St Christopher's Church Hall.
Miss Rowson, of St Ann's, said: "My group has really got behind the campaign and our collection has been an amazing success so far. We have collected at least 100 tins for the St Ann's food bank.
"The ladies have all brought in a tin or two and some have brought in bags full.
"It really can make a massive difference to a family. That one or two tins could be the difference between having an evening meal or not.
"There is a real buzz in the group about it and we are all equally proud of one another in coming together to help people in Nottingham during the festive season."
James Halfpenny, manager of the Poppy and Pint pub in Pierrepont Road, West Bridgford, said their collection was going well.
He said: "We have already filled one box, with a mixture of staff and customers bringing tins in. People seem to be behind it, which is good.
"I'm planning on having another push before Christmas so hopefully we can fill our box a few more times."
The Post's campaign aims to collect five tons of tins for local food banks by Christmas. Schools, churches, businesses and community groups around the country are taking part.
Have you been helped by a food bank? Or are you a volunteer at one? If you would like to tell your story, or update us on how your collection is going, please contact Emily Winsor on 0115 905 1951 or e-mail emily.winsor@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk
