Express & Star

Former Thomas Cook staff giving back with food bank donations

Former Thomas Cook staff in Oldbury have come together to help out a food bank to "give something back".

Published
Louis McLean, Jenny Taylor and Natalie Moss from Hays Travel are collecting food

Employees of the travel company faced an uncertain future after it collapsed in September 23 this year.

Hays Travel stepped in to rescue a number of stores and jobs after a public outcry of support for the employees.

Now staff are hoping to repay the gesture by donating food and collecting items for Smethwick food bank.

Natalie Moss, who works as a travel consultant at the store, said: "It was one of our colleagues, Jenny Taylor, who had the idea about giving back to people because when we lost our jobs at Thomas Cook the community was fantastic.

"She got in touch with a food bank and this is all about saying 'thank you' and the public can drop-off food as well.

"It's brilliant to be able to give something back – everyone pulled together to offer their support when we need it and it's such a good cause, too."

Donations will be collected until December 15, with one trolley already at the Oldbury Green Retail Park branch full with the donations.

The 22-year-old added: "At Christmas you don't want anyone to go without so it couldn't have come at a better time.

"We're donating in store ourselves and we've had a lot of donations – one customer donated 24 collection boxes and we've had quite a few people drop things off.

"It has been really successful."

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