Homeless charity receives helping hand from Corby business

A charity is distributing food vouchers to help homeless people survive during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Corby Nightlight works to relieve poverty among rough sleepers and homeless adults in Corby and the surrounding area.

Corby Nightlight chairman Diane Boyd said: “Our catering van is closed because we can’t operate it in line with social distancing so we’re providing Amazon and supermarket vouchers instead. This is vital because people are relying on these vouchers.”

One of the first to help was total waste management company, Axil Integrated Services. The firm, who operate across the whole of the UK and have their head office in Corby, has provided £2,000 of Asda vouchers, with support from their holding company Regen.

Axil Integrated Services managing director Edward Pigg said: “We were aware of Corby Nightlight and the fantastic work they do to provide food provisions for the homeless community and those experiencing poverty, including families with low or halted incomes.

“We know they’re helping the local council to provide donations to housed homeless people and families in need and thought this was a targeted way to help them at this time.”

The charity provides the vouchers to Corby Borough Council because the local authority has been tasked with finding housing for all homeless people in the area. The council then safely redistributes the vouchers to people in need.

Axil’s generosity has also prompted Asda to donate a monthly food hamper worth £50 to the charity.

Deputy store manager Nick Wood said: “We’re delighted to present the volunteers of Corby Nightlight with the first Asda monthly hamper of edible treats as a thank you for their hard work.”

Diane added: “Axil Integrated Services’ significant donation will enable us to provide food to those who need it for several months. This help is vital because, like many charities, we do most of our fundraising during the summer and won’t be able to do that this year. We expect another rise in demand for our services when councils are once again freed from the obligation of providing housing for homeless people.

“We’d also like to thank Asda for their kind donation as our volunteers do so much and making a donation to them is very generous.”

To support Corby Nightlight’s voucher appeal contact info@corbynightlight.org.uk