Posts Tagged ‘charity’

Lemon Tree Trust Launches Seed Appeal with Mr Fothergill’s to Send 100,000 Packets to Refugee and IDP Camps in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

April 30th, 2020 | News | Comments Off on Lemon Tree Trust Launches Seed Appeal with Mr Fothergill’s to Send 100,000 Packets to Refugee and IDP Camps in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Mr Fothergill's is proud to support the Lemon Tree Trust's ‘Gardener to Gardener’ Seed Appeal with a week-long promotion to our customers. For every packet of seed we sell online from May 1st to May 7th, a packet will be donated to LTT’s seed appeal.

Mr Fothergill’s and the Lemon Tree Trust (LTT) are working together to provide 100,000 packets of seed to people living in refugee and IDP camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). To achieve this, we are supporting LTT’s ‘Gardener to Gardener’ Seed Appeal with a week-long promotion to our UK customers. For every packet of seed we sell online in the first week of May, a packet will be donated to the LTT’s seed appeal.

Further packets will be purchased using donations collected in 2020 by Lemon Tree Trust in the UK and USA.

Lemon Tree Trust Founder and CEO, Stephanie Hunt, based in Dallas, Texas, USA, says:

“We are all seeking refuge and solace in our gardens as Covid-19 completely disrupts our lives. The need for personal green space and home gardens has never been greater in the camps where we support people to grow food and flowers. Limited space and resources make people creative and this is certainly true of the incredible gardeners we know in Kurdistan. We are thrilled to have the support of Mr Fothergill’s and have been humbled by the number of personal seed donations we have already received this month.”

Demand for seed and plants in camps in the KRI has significantly increased since all camps were closed to help combat the outbreak of Covid-19 in the region. Thousands of people have lost their jobs as a result of the outbreak and food shortages have been experienced in most camps. In the last two weeks alone, LTT has distributed over 3,000 plants and seeds to over 1,000 families in Domiz 1 camp with further seed distributions of previously donated seed from Mr Fothergill’s planned in a further seven camps over the next two weeks.

Tim Jeffries from Mr Fothergill’s says:

“We’re all thankful for our gardens at the moment and here at Mr Fothergill’s we have consistently seen at least 100% more demand than usual for seed. Thanks to our partnership with Lemon Tree Trust we can support people in refugee and IDP camps to create home gardens for purpose and pleasure, helping in our own way to overcome the global challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

It has not been possible for Lemon Tree Trust to run its popular garden competitions this year due to Covid-19 restrictions in place across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. However, home gardens are being celebrated with a ‘virtual garden exhibition’ as residents are encouraged to share photographs of their gardens in exchange for seeds and lemon trees. Winners are being announced every week and as many gardens as possible are being shared via online galleries

LTT is calling on gardeners everywhere to support people living in refugee and IDP camps who are desperate to plant food and flowers at their home shelters. In addition to our online promotion matching seed packets sold inthe first week of May to donate to the Lemon Tree Trust, they are also asking for any spare seed to be sent directly to the charity for distribution later in the year. Please email info@lemontreetrust.org for a UK or USA postal address or donate directly to the appeal online at lemontreetrust.org/donate.

11,000 Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Packets to Help Refugees in Kurdistan

March 17th, 2020 | News | Comments Off on 11,000 Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Packets to Help Refugees in Kurdistan

Mr Fothergill's support Lemon Tree Trust with over 11,000 packets of seed

Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, with support from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), has supplied over 11,000 packets of seed to Lemon Tree Trust (LTT) projects in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The mix of vegetables, herbs and flowers will be distributed to people living in refugee, Internally Displaced Persons and transit camps. It follows donations of seed made in partnership with the RHS in 2018 and 2019 to LTT gardening projects in refugee communities in the region.

The seeds are being stored for distribution this spring to camps that offer safety for people displaced by conflict. The seed packets will be used in home garden kits, garden competitions and community gardens.

Stephanie Hunt, Founder and CEO of the Lemon Tree Trust said: “Gardens and gardening bring people joy. It is as simple as that. I have been reminded on recent visits that a glimpse of green in an otherwise grey and hostile landscape is priceless. The support of Mr Fothergill’s Seeds and the RHS in bringing the pleasure of plants to the camps cannot be underestimated.”

Mr Fothergill's support refugee communities in Kurdistan with over 11,000 packets of seed

Tim Jeffries, Commercial Director at Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, added: “We try to support projects where growing can help improve lives and we are delighted to help the RHS and the Lemon Tree Trust in their invaluable efforts in Iraq.”

Triathlete From Mr Fothergill’s to Make Garden Releaf Debut

February 20th, 2020 | News | Comments Off on Triathlete From Mr Fothergill’s to Make Garden Releaf Debut

Sam Broadway, National Account Manager for Mr Fothergills, riding a bike as part of a triathlon

Sam Broadway, National Account Manager for Mr Fothergill’s, has been doing some serious training to ensure optimum performance for her 100-mile Garden ReLeaf bike ride on 13th March. She has taken up triathlons in the past year to raise money for charity, to keep fit, of course, and be in peak condition for the Greenfingers walk.

Sam, the youngest in the Mr Fothergill’s team, has a weekly training schedule of a 10-mile run on Saturday, a 1-hour turbo session and 2.5km swim on Sunday, 5k on a Tuesday, a 5:30am Wednesday start for a 3.5k swim, sprint intervals on Thursday and a 7.5km run on Friday! Compare and contrast with the oldest member of the team, Commercial Director Tim Jeffries, who, since rugby gave him up 2 years ago, has trouble getting out of bed in the morning and subsequently moving his knees!

Sam Broadway, National Account Manager for Mr Fothergills, running as part of a triathlon

Sam’s boss also wonders when she has any time for work!

Sam is part of the Team Lightning Seeds from Mr Fothergills. She will be joined on the day by 20-mile walkers Tim Jeffries, David Carey, Jeremy Sharp, Alison Mulvaney, Nina Claydon, Alison Roberts and Chris Owen plus regular cyclists Richard Keegan and Matt Jackson. In addition, staff at the Kentford HQ will be completing various fund-raising events in the Mr Fothergills HQ.

Commercial Director Tim Jeffries commented “I hope we have another great fundraising year this year with help from our suppliers, customers and friends. Greenfingers is such a great cause in the gardening world and so many people in our company get behind our efforts to raise money, whether in the office or on the walk or ride. I think Sam may be taking it a little too seriously but at least she won’t suffer the next day like most of the rest of us!”

You can support Mr Fothergill’s fundraising efforts by donating via our JustGiving page here. Please donate generously and give what you can for this amazing cause.

Sam Broadway, National Account Manager for Mr Fothergills, jogging in a wetsuit part of a triathlon

About Greenfingers
Greenfingers Charity is a national charity dedicated to creating magical gardens for children, and their families who spend time in hospices around the UK. The charity is committed to creating specially designed, stimulating garden spaces that can bring many benefits to children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions.

Ties on for Tim Again as Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Raises Money for BBC Children in Need

November 15th, 2019 | News | Comments Off on Ties on for Tim Again as Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Raises Money for BBC Children in Need

Once again, the team at Mr Fothergill’s Seeds have donned their finest ties to help raise money for BBC Children in Need – an idea which came about as Tim Jeffries, Mr Fothergill’s Commercial Director is the last and only person to ever wear a tie in the office! And this year their colleagues in Australia have done exactly the same. Tim again donated £1 for each person wearing a tie with the company’s joint Managing Directors John Fothergill and David Carey matching his donation.

Mr Fothergills UK office taking part in Ties for Tim to raise money for BBC Children in Need

Mr Fothergills Austrailia office taking part in Ties for Tim to raise money for BBC Children in Need

‘Ties for Tim’ is part of a week of fundraising activities at the Mr Fothergill’s offices in Newmarket, with staff also taking on the challenge to ‘Be the Masterchef’, the Children in Need annual duck race and coming dressed up in their Pudsey inspired yellow or spotty outfits, with all proceeds going to BBC Children in Need.

The money raised during the week will be added to sales of Mr Fothergill’s Sunflower Pudsey and Pumpkin Pudsey seed packets, with 30p from each going directly to BBC Children in Need. To date, this donation has reached over £24,000.

Tim commented “It’s fantastic that everyone at Mr Fothergill’s gets behind such an important cause, having fun in the process. If only everyone came to work looking as smart as they did on Monday! But it’s just as important that our retail customers and their customers are engaged and we have seen that through sales of our Sunflower Pudsey and Pumpkin Pudsey seed packets.”

Sunflower Pudsey and Pumpkin Pudsey have an RRP of £1.99 and are available from selected garden retailers, online at www.mr-fothergills.co.uk and in Homebase stores.

Mr Fothergill’s Helps BBC Children In Need Raise £58 Million for 2018 Appeal

July 16th, 2019 | News | Comments Off on Mr Fothergill’s Helps BBC Children In Need Raise £58 Million for 2018 Appeal

Mr Fothergill's Sunflower Pudsey and Pumpkin Pudsey seeds raising money for BBC Children In Need

Back in May 2018, at Mr Fothergill’s we announced our new partnership with BBC Children In Need and launched two new seed packets for children – Pumpkin Pudsey and Sunflower Pudsey. For each packet sold, we pledge to donate 30p to help make a real difference to the lives of children all across the UK. Since the launch of these seed packets and thanks to our wonderfully generous customers, we have been able to pledge over £16,000 to support Children In Need. Now, we’re delighted to find out that this contribution has helped BBCCiN raise a whopping total of £58 million in 2018!

Pudsey themed cakes at Mr F HQ fundraising for BBC Children In Needcake saleThe staff at Mr F HQ in Suffolk also joined in with their own fundraising efforts during Children In Need week last year – raising over £400 – which saw them taking part in a cake bake, the Children in Need annual duck race and coming dressed up in their finest yellow or spotty outfits. The office also took part in ‘Ties for Tim’ where Tim Jeffries, Mr Fothergill’s Commercial Director, donated £1 for each person who came to work wearing a tie, an idea which came about as he is normally the only person to wear one in the office.

BBC Children in Need is currently supporting over 3,000 projects across the UK that are helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma. In the last year alone, BBC Children in Need has been able to make a real difference to 580,000 young lives in communities the length and breadth of the UK.

 Mr Fothergill’s Helps BBC Children In Need Raise £58 Million for 2018 AppealSimon Antrobus, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “Once again our incredible supporters across the UK have done themselves proud.  This is a tremendous result and will allow us to continue our vital work to help make a difference to disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. As a charity we exist to support organisations in communities across the UK which empower children and extend their life choices, and this phenomenal total will go a long way in helping us make a lasting impact. An enormous thank you to everyone who once again went above and beyond!”

 

Mr Fothergill’s is incredibly proud to support this amazing charity. For more information about BBC Children in Need, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey.