Kind-hearted workers at Dundee’s Michelin factory have donated 65 bags of goods to Dundee Foodbank.
Workers at the factory collected the food, as well as £500 cash, as part of a bid to leave a “positive legacy” for Dundee before the Baldovie factory shuts down next year.
They even helped the foodbank collect more produce after one of the charity’s vans was forced off the road because of a puncture and they used their own vehicle, which had been used to deliver their donation, to plug the gap.
Peter Blanchard, 36, site engineering manager, said: “Although we are going through a difficult thing at the factory we want to go out with a positive legacy and do some good things for the city.
“Despite the adversity we face, workers identified a meaningful charity they wanted to support and they recognised Dundee Foodbank.
“They’ve had an increase in demand of 55% over the last year, which is terrifying. That’s 55% more people who don’t have food for meals or the nutrition they need to be healthy.”
Peter said the factory food drive was run in conjunction with the Unite union as well as support from the factory manager.
They organised “Curry for a Can” evenings where Michelin paid for curries for the staff in return for donations to the foodbank.
He said: “Employees were able to make donations and also have a team meal.
“People were bringing in a huge amount of stuff. With 815 employees, if everybody brought in a couple of cans that would have been great but people were bringing in bags of stuff.
“Despite the challenges staff are facing, the fact people still have the kindness and generosity is a brilliant thing to witness.”
He added the delivery of the Michelin donation also had an unintended side-benefit for the foodbank.
Peter said: “The foodbank collection van couldn’t go out because of a puncture so the Michelin van is going to go out and make collections for it.”
Peter said workers will be continuing fundraising for charity until the factory shuts done.
Between April 2018 and March this year, Dundee Foodbank distributed 11,450 parcels to people in need.
Despite Michelin’s donation the charity still requires even more donations as it is moving through stock so quickly.
Anyone who can help is asked to contact stock co-coordinator michael@dundee.foodbank.org.uk
