Posted on 22nd Apr
Wilko is donating 37,400 bags of popcorn to Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire councils, charities and community projects to give hardworking families a sweet treat in time for this Thursday’s Big Night In, a TV entertainment special that will raise funds for Comic Relief and Children in Need.
The retailer is working with its popcorn supplier Tayto to make the donation possible in time for the television spectacular and will also become the popcorn sponsor for Nottingham’s upcoming virtual festival, which will take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
The popcorn will be distributed directly from wilko to hardworking families via Nottingham City Council, Nottingham County Council, Nottingham Forest in the Community, Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service and The Real Junk Food Project in Wakefield.
Jerome Saint-Marc, wilko CEO, said: “We know that this crisis is hitting those who were already vulnerable, the hardest, which is why we’re focusing much of our community work particularly on families. We hope this small gesture will go a some way in cheering up families in Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire and provide a tasty treat to enjoy while watching The Big Night In or while viewing the upcoming virtual festival in Nottingham.
“We’re incredibly proud of and thankful to our team members across the entire business who have done a phenomenal job in ensuring hardworking families have access to the products they need and we appreciate the extra mile they’re going here to support local causes and communities throughout the UK.”
This donation is one of many projects wilko is undertaking to support communities during the Covid-19 crisis. Other activities include launching a £125,000 community fund, donating thousands of Easter Eggs to families in need and NHS staff and enabling members of its Worksop support centre staff to volunteer for a helpline for elderly people who may feel isolated.
The Big Night In will be broadcast on BBC1 at 7pm this Thursday and is the first joint fundraiser for Comic Relief and Children in Need. It features performance and sketches from Dawn French, Peter Kay, Catherine Tate and more. Details of the Nottingham’s virtual festival will be announced shortly.
