The latest group to benefit from Ferryhill Town Council’s Members Initiative Fund (MIF) is the Ferryhill Foodbank.
Distribution Manager for County Durham Foodbanks, Stephanie Monahan, recently attended a presentation at Ferryhill Town Hall, where Councillors Stephen Bowron and Christine Woods presented her with a cheque for £200 from their MIF allocations.
Funding will be used to contribute to supplies for the Ferryhill Foodbank, for the benefit of the local community.
The idea of contributing to the foodbank came about through a project idea devised by Royal British Legion member, Andy Denholm and Cllr Bowron. The project will see over 70 commemorative ‘Tommys’ being placed on family and Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) headstones including unmarked graves at Duncombe Cemetery, as a mark of respect for the great sacrifice and service these heroes made for their country.
When Nigel Freeman, Director of Operations at BTS Fabrications, the company commissioned to manufacture the Tommys learned of the project, he offered to provide the Tommys free of charge, and instead of receiving payment for the work, suggested that a donation be made to the town’s Foodbank.
Accordingly, Cllr Bowron was more than happy to offer a £100 donation from his MIF allocation, with Cllr Woods, who is a member of the Royal British Legion, also donating £100 from her fund.
Cllr Bowron said: “I’m delighted that months of hard work has paid off and that commemorative Tommys will now be placed on the war graves as a mark of respect.
“A huge thank you to BTS for offering to manufacture the Tommys free of charge. In accordance with their wishes I was extremely happy to support Ferryhill Foodbank.”
Cllr Woods added: “When I heard about this project I really wanted to contribute. Placing Tommys on military graves will provide a poignant reminder of the service and sacrifice given by these war heroes, while donating funds to the Foodbank will support those most in need in our community.”
For more information on the Members Initiative Fund, contact Karen Younghusband at Ferryhill Town Hall on 01740 652157 or email: kyounghusband[@]ferryhill[.]gov[.]uk.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
