On 1st May 2020, Smith Goodfellow celebrated 40 years in business. It's a huge milestone for us, especially given the current global pandemic and the impact it's having on small businesses like ours around the world.  Because community is one of the most important things to us as a business, and a team, we want to celebrate by giving back. Over the next 12 months, we will be undertaking 40 good deeds, big and small, to support our local community, other businesses and charities close to our hearts. 

We're kicking off by walking, running, cycling and dancing 400 miles in 40 days to raise money for The Trussell Trust. This is not your usual sponsored walk/cycle/run because several members of the team are self isolating - we're going to be getting creative and completing our miles in all sorts of ways, including exercise bikes, step machines! 

We've chosen to support The Trussell Trust for this because we want to support the vital service that they offer. More and more people are being forced to use food banks because they cannot afford the basics in life. Last year, food banks in the Trussell Trusts network provided 1.6 million three-day emergency food parcels to people in crisis, with over 500,000 of these going to children. This was an increase of almost 20% on the previous year. Now, as the Coronavirus pandemic develops, its likely that increasing numbers of people will need support from their local food bank. As food bank staff and volunteers work to source and distribute food to people who need support, their resources are becoming increasingly stretched as they come under additional pressure. The Trussell Trust are working closely with their network of over 1,200 food banks to work out how each food bank can be best supported in the coming months to make sure that they're able to continue to help people in crisis in their local communities.

Anything you can give to help this worthy cause will make a difference. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of our 40 year journey and for helping us give back to communities across the UK. We hope you are staying safe and well.