In a move to continue support its suppliers and communities during the Coronavirus outbreak, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is supplying fresh sandwiches, that would otherwise have been served onboard its trains, to a charity fighting food hunger.
Onboard catering has been temporarily withdrawn and the number of LNER train services reduced as part of the nationwide effort to slow the spread of Coronavirus in the UK. So LNER will provide up to 5,000 sandwiches each week, which will be made and delivered by Bradford-based supplier Tiffin, to the charity FareShare Yorkshire’s centre in Leeds.
FareShare is a national network of charitable food redistributors, which supports almost 11,000 frontline charities and community groups across the UK, including school breakfast clubs, older people’s lunch clubs, homeless shelters, and community cafes.
Claire Ansley, LNER Customer Experience Director said: “Our Catering and Community teams have formed a partnership with FareShare, which is dedicated to fighting hunger by redistributing surplus food. It’s one of many steps LNER is taking to support our suppliers and communities during these challenging times.”
Gareth Batty, FareShare Yorkshire CEO, has welcomed the support: “We’re delighted that LNER’s sandwiches will be put to good use and will be delivered to people who are vulnerable and at risk across Yorkshire.”
Tiffin’s Key Account Manager, Steven Dunn said: “During the pandemic we have seen our workload reduce significantly. As LNER is a key customer for Tiffin Sandwiches, being able to send their order to support local communities is inspiring and heart-warming.”
The sandwich donation is one of many ways in which LNER is supporting communities along the East Coast route. As well as linking up with FareShare nationwide, LNER is also working with a number of other charities and organisations to provide help and support to key workers and those most in need.
More than 500 eggs that would have been used for First Class LNER breakfasts were donated to Matt Healy ‘X The Foundry’ in Leeds to make Yorkshire Puddings included in lunch for hundreds of NHS frontline staff. LNER is also supporting Food Revival in Leeds and other supplies have been donated to the Magic Hat Café in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and ambulance stations in Falkirk, Sauchie and Stirling.
