Yellow Coaches and Yellow Buses in Bournemouth are assisting a Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council initiative to deliver food parcels to families in the community during the half term break.
The initiative, called ‘Together We Can’, is a coordinated effort to support vulnerable people during the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, which began in March. It works in partnership with public, private and voluntary sector organisations, community groups and residents. Council staff allocate volunteers to residents needing help and support.
The operator, which runs a fleet of 16 coaches and 110 buses, says it is delivering food parcels to 439 families during the half term break across the BCP Conurbation.
“We are delighted to assist in this programme,” says Managing Director at Yellow Coaches and Yellow Buses David Squire. “We realise the difficulties the struggles that many families are facing during the pandemic and as the locally owned, locally managed bus company, we are proud to play a small part in assisting local families.
“I am immensely proud of my staff for getting involved with this project and to those that have volunteered to assist.”
BCP Councillor Nicola Greene, Portfolio Holder for COVID Resilience, adds: “I am extremely proud of the efforts of all those who have stepped up to prepare food parcels, staff the phone lines, plan the distribution and deliver these essential packages to families all across the BCP area this half term.”
“We’ve seen a brilliant effort from all those involved to make sure those children most in need don’t go hungry. A huge thank you to Yellow Buses for taking part and helping to distribute food parcels – what fantastic support.”
Yellow Buses Sales Executive Jay Thornton and Marketing and Sales Manager Fiona Harwood have expressed how rewarding the experience has been. “The project is such a worthy cause, especially during these times of financial hardship and the current circumstances which further add to problems for many families,” they say. “We are pleased that we can play our part in this as a business that is locally owned and locally managed in deploying our resources to give back to the local community.”