TRADERS and runners have combined together again to support a foodbank.

Forest Traders and Virtual Running Events teamed up to combine their festive food donations to The Forest Foodbank.

In lieu of sending Christmas cards to their clients, Forest Traders again used the money to purchase food to donate.

And for the second year, Virtual Running Events – which organises online running challenges – donated money for each of their Christmas medal sales to put towards a shop, too.

They made their donation together to the Cinderford depot just before Christmas.

Jo Davies-Raynor of Forest Traders said: “We appreciate the foodbank receive a lot of donations this time of year, which is excellent so we focus mainly on treats and niceties that perhaps wouldn’t be so easily available.

“We hope these will bring smiles to faces across the festive period.”

Andy Raynor of Virtual Running Events said: “Whilst there is always a sadness that foodbanks need to exist, you cannot help but smile from the positive energy and helpfulness you see from the team there.

“It’s very rewarding to know we are able to help even in some small way.”

However, one foodbank has been forced to temporarily halt accepting donations after having to quit its current warehouse premises.

Caldicot Foodbank announced that it would be unable to accept food parcles from collection points in ASDA, Waitrose and Caldicot Library from December 18, owing to its storage warehouse owners, the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, requiring the facility back.

The charity is hoping to re-start collections at the end of this month. 

 A charity spokesperson said before Christmas they had been “forced to move from their current home by February 2020”.

Food collection points were thus being withdrawn in the meantime, although the supply of food parcels to those in need would continue as usual.

They added that the current plan was to move from an NHS building to one due to be provided by Monmouthshire County Council, and a formal agreement was still being thrashed out.

Caldicot Food Bank warehouse manager, Diane Taylor, said that in the meantime, they had their hands full with delivering client needs over the Christmas period, with around 400 recienbts.

Waitrose in Caldicot donated £400 to enable the foodbank to buy essential supplies during the move, to ensure the supply of food to needy people continues.

Donations of cash are still welcomed by the foodbank: individuals or organisations can e-mail [email protected] or message them via their Facebook page.