Dancing fairies help Coventry foodbanks tackle hunger this Christmas
Two dozen dancing fairies are hoping to raise funds and awareness of the growing demand on a food charity in Coventry.
Coventry Foodbank has launched its latest festive fundraising campaign to help tackle the rising food crisis.
They’re appealing for support to help meet increasing demand through a new five-part video, filmed in collaboration with two local dance groups.
It aims to raise awareness as well as thousands of pounds for the charity, which has 14 foodbanks throughout the city.
Youngsters from Leamington and Warwick Academy of Dance and Pointe the Way Ballet School in Solihull put their own spin on the story of The Night Before Christmas.
It is hoped the campaign will surpass the success of last year’s, The Dance of the Foodbank Fairies, which raised £22k.
Around 24 dancers aged between six and 15, took part in a day of filming at Coventry Foodbank’s Halo Centre warehouse in Binley.
It’s a cause particularly close to the heart of the dance schools’ Principal Viv Kibble, also the wife of one Coventry Foodbank’s founders Canon Gavin Kibble MBE.
She said: "We did some filming for the first-time last year and the children loved every minute. The amount we raised was incredible. This year the youngsters are the fairies of the warehouse who make all the magic happen and the teenagers are the growing hunger, ninja characters.
"The hunger in the city has continued to grow as cost of living has risen steeply this year so the challenge for this year’s campaign is to find regular givers who would give monthly as well as one-off donations. The target is to top £30K.
"Food poverty is very real in Coventry and everything we do helps to alleviate the pressure for those who need it the most."
Since the start of the year, the city’s food bank has been forced to use its cash reserves to buy over 20 tons of food, as they face a drop in donations but a rise in demand.
Rich Smith, Head of Communications at Coventry Foodbank, said: "There are more and more people living in Coventry who are facing a food crisis and every week Coventry Foodbank engages with people who are struggling to put food on the table and are completely relying on food and financial donations. It provides a lifeline to thousands of people across the city."
To donate, visit: https://coventryfoodbank.org.uk/life/ or by finding Coventry Foodbank on Facebook @coventryfoodbank and Instagram @coventry_foodbank.
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