The People’s Kitchen, a prominent charitable organization dedicated to assisting homeless individuals in the North East, has taken a noteworthy stride towards sustainability by replacing its older seven-year-old Ford Transit with an upgraded vehicle.
The new addition to their fleet, the Ford Transit Leader Van 350 L2 equipped with a 68 kWh battery, signifies their decision to improve their green credentials.
“Our decision to invest in a newer, eco-friendly van was prompted by the introduction of Clean Air Zone regulations in Newcastle City Centre. Unfortunately, our 2016 Ford Transit no longer complied with the regulations, and we thought it was best to upgrade and move towards becoming cleaner and more environmentally friendly”.
Maggie Pavlou, a trustee from The People’s Kitchen
With this latest upgrade, The People’s Kitchen can collect more donations from supermarkets, schools, and churches, moving the goods between its main warehouse and the kitchen with less emissions. Their volunteer drivers work relentlessly Monday to Friday and travel across the whole Northeast region. The new electric vehicle ensures that their meaningful work can continue in a carbon-free way. The van has arrived just in time for two of their busiest periods, with preparations already underway for both the October Harvest festival and their “Feed a Friend for a Fiver” Christmas campaign.
Through the combined support of their corporate and individual donors, The People’s Kitchen were able to collect an impressive £65,570.76 to purchase their latest upgrade. It’s heartwarming to see the North East community coming together to help those who need it most and make a meaningful contribution to society.
