Universities collect over a tonne of items during Festive Food Drive

Universities across the North East joined forces to collect more than a tonne of food and toiletries for families who need a little help this Christmas.  

Durham University spearheaded the 2023 Festive Food Drive which saw Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside universities team-up to collect goods at donation points across their campuses.  

Staff and student volunteers helped collect and package up the goods which were weighed to reveal an incredible grand total of 1,696kg of items collected across the five universities.  

This equates to just over a tonne and a half of food, which made up the majority of donated items, and is estimated to be enough to provide around 1,700 meals for families across the North East.  

Each university worked with chosen charities throughout the Festive Food Drive, and they will now distribute the goods to those in need in the run up to Christmas.  

Durham University teamed up with the Stockton-based charity A Way Out, the Trussell Trust national foodbank charity and Feeding Families, who work in communities across the North East.  

Juliet Sanders, CEO and founder of Feeding Families, said: “Feeding Families is all about working together and contributing what we can.   

“North East universities coming together to support us have helped us to meet the huge demand at Christmas this year. 

“Because of food donations and volunteering days, so many local families will benefit.   

“Thank you to all involved.” 

Stacy Porter, Volunteering and Community Outreach Co-ordinator at Durham University, was thrilled with the response to the Festive Food Drive.  

She said: “We were once again blown away by the generosity of our staff and students here at Durham.   

“Their donations have a huge impact on people’s lives in and around the county, particularly at this time of year.   

“Across Durham and Stockton, we have collected an amazing amount of food and hygiene items to donate to Feeding Families, A Way Out and The Trussell Trust foodbank.   

“Thank you to everyone that contributed to make it one of our most successful Festive Food Drive campaigns to date.”