One of Cumbria’s longest established firms has pledged to support the UK’s network of foodbanks in the run-up to Christmas.
Grasmere Gingerbread, established 168 years ago, will give £1 from selected gift boxes to the Trussell Trust, which co-ordinates foodbanks.
Every December, Grasmere Gingerbread donates money from Christmas mail order sales to charity, with past beneficiaries including Shelter and the Samaritans.
Andrew Hunter, co-director of Grasmere Gingerbread, said: “It’s always a difficult decision choosing which organisation to support.
“But with the cost of living crisis affecting so many of our fellow citizens we felt the Trussell Trust’s UK network of foodbanks was a priority in 2022.”
Meanwhile, the business has just given its own full-time employees a £1,000 cost of living bonus, with part-time employees receiving a pro-rata equivalent.
Andrew said: “As a fourth generation family business we value our team and believe that supporting them during difficult circumstances is part of our wider corporate social responsibility.
Grasmere Gingerbread founder Sarah Nelson invented her unique spicy-sweet cross between a biscuit and cake to lift her own family out of poverty in the middle of the 19th century.
She was only granted the tenancy of her Church Cottage home in 1854 – now The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop – because her family was so poor and were desperate for somewhere to live in the village.
Andrew added: “Yet, throughout her life she helped other people struggling to survive economically and even taught local children the alphabet using large Grasmere Gingerbread letters covered in horn. Her sense of community and commitment to others informs how we run the business to this day.”
In the run-up to Christmas, selected gift boxes bought by customers through the Grasmere Gingerbread online shop will trigger a £1 donation to the Trussell Trust. For all parcels mailed out during the period between December 1 and 23, a 50p donation will be made.
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