DISADVANTAGED people struggling under cost-of-living pressures are getting a much-needed boost from London opticians.
Specsavers store partners Mo El-Turki and Sirjit Sanghera are donating provisions to The Trussell Trust’s Chalk Farm Foodbank, which offers support to people and families in dire need. Working in the Capital, both of them have witnessed first-hand the day-to-day crisis faced by their local communities and wanted to provide support.
Mo El-Turki, dispensing optician, and Sirjit Sanghera, ophthalmic director, have built up their business over the last 13 years. Motivated by their own upbringing and focus on being dedicated to their profession, through hard work they now run four Specsavers stores in the Mid-City area – Tottenham Court Road, London Wall, Holborn and Brunswick – employing 43 staff.
For each review the stores receive from customers, Mo and Sirjit are donating an item of food.
Sirjit says: ‘Every day we see many people who are struggling, so Mo and I decided that we wanted to do something concrete and provide help.
‘And I must admit, the first donation we made to the Chalk Farm Foodbank felt really humbling, particularly as the Foodbank Project Manager, Kalisha, gave us the most incredible feedback about the difference we had made to the families they support.’
Continuing Sirjit says: ‘The mechanism for deciding on the donations is based on the number of customer reviews and comments received across each of the stores, with every comment, irrespective of what is said, being matched with an item of food. So the first donation of supplies totalled £146, based on 143 responses received across all four stores. We were delighted to receive every single comment.’
The Trussell Trust operates a nationwide network of foodbanks providing emergency food and support. Between April 2022 and March 2023, it carried out research that revealed a significant rise in demand of 37% for the charity’s services on the previous year. Across its network, the organisation provided almost 3 million food supplies to people in crisis during this timeframe.
Chalk Farm Foodbank, established in 2012, has itself seen a rise in the number of people from various parts of the community visiting them.
Adrienne McPherson, Trussell Trust Area Manager for North London, says: ‘We have seen a noticeable increase in people requiring support over the last 12 months. We are extremely grateful to Specsavers store partners Mo and Sirjit and their team for their donations, which provide essential supplies to adults and families across the community.’
Chalk Farm Foodbank Project Manager, Kalisha, adds: ‘The very first donation made by Mo and Sirjit fed 59 adults and 42 children. All the food donated was given out, so that’s how much is needed and how long it lasts.
‘Your delivery really boosted our session today and we gave everything out, so this is great. Thank you so much.’
In-store posters will be put up in the stores to raise awareness of this initiative. If you would like to support it, then leave a comment following your store visit for a sight or hearing test, contact lens or glasses fitting or anything else.
