Food bank campaign off to a flying start thanks to Ellis Jones

Staff at Ellis Jones have dug deep to help put food on the tables of some of the area’s neediest residents.

For the second year running, Ellis Jones Solicitors is taking part in a campaign by the Bournemouth and District Junior Lawyers Division (JLD).

Its offices in Canford Cliffs and Bournemouth donated approximately 75 kilograms – or just under 12 stone – of food to the Bournemouth and Poole food banks during January.

Nine other JLD member firms will now take it in turns to collect food and other items each month between now and December.

The aim is to ensure the food banks receive a steady flow of donations throughout 2015 rather than the customary surges at Christmas and harvest time.

Nigel Smith, Ellis Jones’ Managing Partner, said: “A donation of just under 12 stone of food by our team is a huge achievement and means this excellent campaign has got off to a flying start.

“If every other firm taking part matches, or even exceeds, this total then the Bournemouth & District JLD will have donated about 120 stone – or 750 kgs – to the food banks by the end of 2015. That would be a fantastic result.”

Bournemouth Food Bank provided 25 tonnes of food to just under 8,000 people in 2013/14.

The food banks are staffed by volunteers who provide three day emergency food parcels to those in need.

People are referred by organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) or their GP.

Ellis Jones has five staff on the Bournemouth & District JLD committee – Theresa Mills, Annie James, Beth Watson, Mark Stutter and Carl Arreghini.