Total Hire and Sales Backs Local Charity Campaign

Arena Curch Lets Do This Campaign

Total Hire and Sales has joined Arena Community’s ‘Let’s Do This’ campaign and is urging more local organisations to do the same to help raise vital funds.

The Total Team is by helping making much-needed, monthly donations to its food bank supplies.

Arena Community, part of the Arena Church, was established in 2006 as a local response to poverty, isolation, homelessness and unemployment in and around Ilkeston, Derbyshire and Mansfield and Nottinghamshire. 

Last year, the charity helped over 5,000 people through several initiatives focused on making communities liveable by providing food and practical resources, quality housing via supported accommodation, training, education and rehabilitation. 

The charity was drastically impacted by the Covid pandemic, with its shops shut and more community members than ever reliant on its vital support. This led to the launch of the ‘Let’s Do This’ campaign, which aimed to tackle a £60,000 shortfall in running costs by encouraging local businesses and the public to support its work and commit to monthly donations.

Each month, Total Hire and Sales donates much-needed goods to the food bank, ensuring that the list of essential items is replenished while providing treats to benefit those most in need. The local firm is calling on more local organisations to sign up to pledge their support to Arena’s important causes.

Carl Tidey, Managing Director at Total Hire and Sales, said: It’s important to us to support our local communities however we can. Things are tough at the moment and not set to improve any time soon. We encourage other businesses to join Arena’s ‘Let’s Do This’ campaign to help them continue their essential community support work.

Lisa Harrison at Arena Community said: “We couldn’t operate without support from local businesses, so we really appreciate the donations from Total Hire and other local firms. 

“There are so many ways to get involved from volunteering time, giving one off gifts, donating £5 per month to join the ‘One Thousand Club’ or becoming a ‘Business Buddy’ and committing £100 per month. We’re looking at a £60,000 shortfall to cover running costs and we believe ongoing needs will become even greater. We welcome any support from local business can offer.” 

The Arena Community is an invaluable to some of the most vulnerable members of the local community. Since inception in 2011 to date, over 20,000 food parcels have been given away, this number has risen steeply in the past two years with around 20% of food parcels going to families with children. 

The charity ensures Christmas hampers and toys are donated each year to support the lonely and struggling families, while senior citizens are regularly supported with events and Buddies Friendship Group and weekly ‘Care for a Coffee’ mornings. In addition, the charity oversees the donation of clothing, school uniforms and furniture to help families in need, while Supported Living Accommodation means 10 people are housed on a regular basis and Kids and Students Groups run regularly throughout the year to reach the younger members of the community. 

To find out how to pledge support to Arena Community and its vital projects, visit www.arenacommunity.co.uk/giving.