In response to a recent burglary that left the Peckham Food Bank devastated, OCS has stepped in to provide a much-needed security upgrade. The food bank, part of the charity Pecan, lost thousands of pounds worth of stock when thieves ransacked their facility on September 8th. The incident, which was captured on video, showed the thieves forcing their way in and stealing supplies over several hours.
The break-in sparked outrage and a wave of support from the community and beyond. Among the notable contributions was a £3,500 donation from the Prince and Princess of Wales. In a gesture of solidarity, OCS donated and installed a new security system to help prevent future incidents.
Kellie Newell, OCS Social Value Practitioner, commented, “We have been supporting Pecan in Southwark for some months, and the news of the break-in was shocking to all of us. We were delighted to be able to help with the donation of security products and their installation to help the food bank get back on its feet.”
Shahid Mughal, Head of Food Services at the food bank, expressed his gratitude, saying, “The response from the local community and our corporate supporters has been fantastic. The swift action by OCS will enable our team of staff and volunteers to feel protected at the food bank and reduce the likelihood of this happening again.”
The Peckham Food Bank provides emergency food and hygiene parcels to hundreds of families each week. With the new security measures in place, they are now focused on rebuilding their stock for the winter period, which is one of the most challenging times for many in the local area.
OCS is proud to support such a vital community resource and will continue to work closely with Pecan to ensure they can carry on their essential work without fear of further disruptions.
