A firm of Ely solicitors has donated boxes of food and toiletries for the city foodbank.

Ward Gethin Archer staff, friends and family donated urgently needed goods in the run up to Christmas.

Seven boxes were donated and Ward Gethin Archer themselves matched that to double the number of boxes.

Cathy Wright, Foodbank volunteer at Ely, said: “The staff and directors at Ward Gethin Archer have been extremely generous, we have been blown away by their support.

“We have local people feeding local people.

“We see everyone from all walks of life ask for help. There can be so many reasons why people can’t afford to buy food including lots of parents who have themselves missed meals so their children can eat.

“We see people who have had successful businesses but have gone bankrupt overnight, their funds are frozen and they have nowhere to go.

“Lots of people don’t understand how necessary the Foodbank is.”

Locally the foodbank operates in Ely, Soham, Cottenham, Sutton, Haddenham, Chatteris and March with this being their busiest time of the year. Volunteers are currently handing out around 20 emergency parcels each day.

Commercial solicitor at Ward Gethin Archer, Laura Broughton said: “I recently attended a fund raising event and learned just how many families the Foodbank supports over the cold months, with many families having to decide whether to “heat or eat” due to lack of income to cover both.

“With Christmas fast approaching, I thought it might be a nice idea if our Ely office tried to create a few boxes of food for the Foodbank which we could donate in the week leading up to Christmas.”

• There are 120 local organisations, including schools, doctors’ surgeries, social services and housing associations which can give out vouchers to those in need of a parcel from the Foodbank.

• Volunteers need essentials like toilet roll, long life fruit juice, UHT or powdered milk, tinned meat, fish and vegetables, toiletries and festive treats such as Christmas puddings, crisps, nuts, children’s sweets, stuffing, cranberry sauce, custard and festive crackers.

• Please make sure all food items have at least three months until the best before date.

• Donations can be taken to your local Foodbank centre. To find your nearest distribution centre please visit www.elyfoodbank.org.uk or call 01353 468626.