Two charities that support people experiencing the effects of poverty have received donations totalling £4,000 from Amazon in Cambridge.
Jimmy’s Cambridge and Ely Foodbank received donations following nominations of support from employees at Amazon’s development centre in Cambridge.
Jimmy’s Cambridge is a community-based charity providing support and housing to people who are sleeping rough.
Founded in 1995, it’s one of the most prominent organisations supporting those experiencing homelessness in the city.
The charity, which has received £2,000 from Amazon, provides beds, food, help accessing health services, support for mental ill health and help with substance use and addiction.
Ely Foodbank provides three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people referred to the charity in crisis.
The foodbank also helps direct the people it supports to other services and helps vulnerable people to find long-term solutions for their issues. Amazon donated £2,000 to Ely Foodbank.
Elwin Chan, a software development manager at Amazon in Cambridge, nominated Jimmy’s Cambridge to receive the donation.
He said: “Jimmy’s Cambridge has been supporting and housing people who are sleeping rough in Cambridge for over 25 years.
"I started volunteering with Jimmy’s this year, helping out with cooking shifts each month, and I always leave with a huge smile on my face. It’s great to be able to recognise and support the great work that happens at Jimmy’s with this donation.”
Cat Strawbridge, communications manager at Jimmy’s Cambridge said: “On behalf of everyone at Jimmy’s Cambridge, I want to say a huge 'thank you' to Amazon for this donation.
"It is vital that we continue to shed light on the issue of homelessness and poverty as we seek to make a difference to those in need, and support like this is paramount to that.”
The donation forms part of Amazon’s Volunteer Cash Donation Programme, where Amazon employees nominate local causes where they volunteer their time, to receive a cash donation from the company.
In September, Amazon employees got together for Amazon’s Global Month of Volunteering, an initiative that aims to help the communities where they live and work.
In collaboration with hundreds of community organisations around the world, Amazon employees participated and led in-person and virtual volunteering opportunities to support causes they’re passionate about.
“In September, we came together to help some incredible organisations who are making a real difference in the areas where our employees live and work,” said John Boumphrey, Amazon UK country manager.
“It was fantastic to see our employees sharing their ideas and tapping into their passions to give back to our local communities.”
Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities in and around its operating locations across the UK. Amazon provides students, teachers and parents with free computer science and STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and has teamed up with charity partner Magic Breakfast to deliver more than seven million healthy breakfasts to children at risk of hunger in disadvantaged areas of the country.
Earlier this year, Amazon partnered with Comic Relief to become the official home of the Red Nose. Amazon employees across the UK hosted fundraising activities and together with their customers and partners, raised £2.7 million to support those going through the toughest time of their lives.
Learn more about the ways Amazon supports its communities at: www.aboutamazon.co.uk/impact/community
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