The Blue Bell, a community pub in Long Eaton, is celebrating after donating 664 Easter chocolates and essentials to the Long Eaton and Sawley Food Bank.
For the last few months, the pub has been collecting Easter eggs, food items and essentials kindly donated by Long Eaton locals, while also raising funds through a series of regular charity events as part of Craft Union’s Make it a Million campaign – a campaign where Craft Union pubs come together with a goal of raising £1 million for charity over 12 months.
This week, pub Operator Simon Jones delivered all 664 food items and essentials to the food bank, where staff expressed their heartfelt thanks. The generous donation brought smiles to many people who rely on the food bank for vital supplies.
Included in this huge donation was four trolleys consisting of 162 Easter eggs, 96 chocolate bunnies, 180 toilet rolls, 156 items of tinned food and 70 pasta meals – an incredible effort by everyone involved!
This monumental fundraising effort could not have been achieved without the generosity of the Long Eaton community – many people in the area have personal connections to the food bank and were eager to help a great cause.
For Operator Simon, this cause is particularly close to home. He was inspired to donate as many Easter eggs as possible due to his passion for supporting those less fortunate in the local area.
Simon said: “To see the area come together to support such an important cause is a heartwarming and prime example of what makes our community so brilliant.
“The guests here at the Blue Bell are always keen to support the local community and get behind any ideas I have. We do something similar at Christmas with advent calendar and selection box donations.
“My aim is simple – to put a smile on every person’s face who enters the food bank by being able to bring some Easter cheer with Easter chocolates and essentials. I want to help bring a bit of joy to families who might be going through a tough time.”
Located on 73 High Street, the popular pub plans to build on its success with continued fundraising events designed to engage the community.
For more information about upcoming events at the Blue Bell, visit its website https://www.craftunionpubs.com/blue-bell-long-eaton