Hundreds of Gentoo families have benefited from Easter hampers filled with food essentials including cereal, pasta and rice, essential toiletries and chocolate Easter treats. The hampers have been delivered to customers across Sunderland in time for the Easter weekend.
The appeal is a collective effort from our colleagues and partners including: 0800 Repair, Allscaff Services, Apollo Doors, Baxi, Bell Group , Carney Consultancy, Expert Fire Solutions, Future Electrical, Group Tegula, Honeywell Home, Isoler, Jewson Partnership Solutions, JTC Furniture Group, Lumsdon Wood Partnership, Mears Group, MGM Construction, Morrisons Seaburn, MRM Solutions, Northern Electrical Fire Security, New Deck Flooring, Next Gen Eco Solutions Ltd, Pegasus Group, Randstad, Resource, Safe Strip UK, Storm Tempest and Tembe DIY & Building Products.
Last year, we asked our customers how they were feeling about the cost of living. The results were used to help us understand how best to support its customers. More than 4,500 customers told us how it is personally affecting them, with more than 30% saying buying food was one of their biggest concerns.
Chris Roberts, Director of Customer at Gentoo Group said: “I am blown away by the generosity of colleagues and partners. We have been inundated with donations from people and companies who were so eager to support our customers.
“We know that our customers can encounter financial difficulties through no fault of their own leaving people in a position where they struggle to pay for food or ensure bills are paid on time. This act of kindness from our partners and colleagues will make a huge difference to so many of our customers across Sunderland.
"On behalf of Gentoo, I would like to thank everyone who made this our biggest Easter appeal yet.”
We offer a number of support services to customers who are in financial difficulty or need advice. Last year, our Money Matters service supported 700 customers to claim a staggering £1.9million in financial gains, claiming money they didn’t know they were entitled to.
More than £259,000 was also given out through our Tenancy Sustainment Fund, which is used to help with essentials such as gas and electric top-ups, urgent food shops and baby essentials, including beds for children, as well as supporting more than 8,684 customers to utilise water discount schemes, with more than £1.4 million in discounts being claimed.
We would urge any customers who would benefit from some additional support to contact their Neighbourhood Coordinator.
We are continuing to support customers over the Easter half term by hosting its third family fun day at the Beacon of Light for 2000 customers on Friday 25 April.
