From Platform to Pantry: GWR Supports Swindon Food Collective with Diwali Donation Drive
Category: Race, Ethnicity & Heritage, Social Responsibility (Charity/ Volunteering/Environmentalism)
Great Western Railway (GWR) colleagues donated 125kg of food and household essentials, enough to provide 360 meals, to the Swindon Food Collective as part of a Diwali donation drive. Organised by GWR’s REACH colleague network, which champions ethnic and cultural diversity, the collection ran at the Swindon head office, London Paddington station and Reading Traincare Depot. Donations included tinned meals, long-life milk, cereal, toothpaste, sanitary products and cleaning supplies. Staff from the Swindon Food Collective helped sort and pack the items for distribution to people in need across the area. As Swindon’s primary food bank, the Collective provided more than 90,000 meals last year.
Inspired by the values of Diwali, Great Western Railway (GWR) colleagues have donated 125kg of food and essentials to the Swindon community, enough to provide 360 meals.
The initiative, organised by GWR's REACH colleague network, which champions ethnic and cultural diversity across the business, collected donations for the Swindon Food Collective ahead of a Diwali celebration at the train operator’s HQ in Swindon.
Collection baskets were placed across the Swindon head office, as well as at London Paddington station and Reading Traincare Depot, allowing colleagues to donate food, toiletries and household essentials. Requested items included tinned meals, long-life milk, cereal, toothpaste, sanitary products and cleaning supplies.
As part of the event, staff from the Swindon Food Collective joined GWR colleagues to help sort and pack donations which will be distributed to people across the area who need support.
Gurpreet Kaur, a Contract Performance Analyst at GWR who organised the donation drive, said:
“Diwali is a celebration of light, hope, kindness and community, making it the perfect opportunity to come together and support people across Swindon who may be facing difficult circumstances.
“Our colleagues have embraced that spirit by donating food and household essentials that will make a real difference to individuals and families throughout our community.
"We are proud to be working with the Swindon Food Collective and grateful to everyone who has contributed, supporting members of our community who need it most."
Kirstie Hacker, Operations Director from the Swindon Food Collective, said:
“We are extremely honoured that GWR has chosen to support Swindon Food Collective as part of its Diwali celebrations.
As Swindon’s primary food bank, we provided more than 90,000 meals to people in our local community last year. With demand continuing to rise and supplies becoming increasingly stretched, this generous support and the collection of donated food, hygiene and cleaning products will make a significant difference. It will help us address the growing gap between demand and supply, enabling us to continue providing vital support to individuals and families across our community.”
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