A BOURNEMOUTH charity has received a £500 donation thanks to a Community Fund programme.

The TK Maxx and Homesense Foundation has donated £500 to Hope for Food through their programme following an employee application to support the charity in their ongoing efforts to assist the most vulnerable in society, by providing fresh food; food hampers; good quality clothing; bedding and household goods, where needed.

Hope for Food, run entirely by volunteers, aims to provide life’s basic essentials on a day to day basis to people in need of help, and this grant will help the charity to continue doing just that.

Capital Projects Manager from TK Maxx Head Office, Samantha Headington, who submitted the grant for the charity, said: "I am delighted to be able to support a local charity that is so close to my heart.

"Hope for Food supports the most vulnerable people in society with the aim of providing life's essentials on a day to day basis in the local area. I wanted to support this charity because I can't imagine having to make a choice between paying rent or feeding my family.

"I know this year has been so hard for so many families, so I wanted to do what I could to help."

The donation was accepted on behalf of the charity by Trustee for Donations and Fundraising, Pauline Stevenson.

She said: "On behalf of everyone here at Hope for Food, I want to thank everyone at The TK Maxx and Homesense Foundation for the generous donation, which will be invaluable to the local area and the lives of many."

The Community Fund, which is funded by The TK Maxx and Homesense Foundation, is "passionate" about supporting local charities and invites associates, employees working for either companies to apply for a grant on behalf of a local charity that is important to them.

Since the Fund started in 2015, over £1.5 million has been donated from The TK Maxx and Homesense Foundation to various charities across Europe.