A COLLABORATION between local businesses and the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum (CLRF) has given support to the emergency services and community groups trying to combat food poverty.

The CLRF and RE:ACT, a disaster relief agency, are working with local businesses and groups to provide support to the emergency services during the pandemic.

Recently, Wm Armstrong has distributed bottles of water, donated by United Utilities, to police, fire, and ambulance stations across north and west Cumbria.

Geof Armstrong, director of Wm Armstrong, said: “We are pleased to be involved with the distribution of drinks to emergency services across the region.

“Our trucks deliver to all areas of Cumbria every day, so it made sense for us to be involved and help out.”

The bottles of water were donated to stations in Carlisle, Penrith and Workington.

Wm Armstrong and United Utilities also gave bottles to Eggcup, a support group that has been helping families experiencing food poverty during the pandemic.

Jo House, an inspector for Cumbria Police, said: “We are grateful for the ongoing support from the private sector with many businesses, such as United Utilities on this occasion, donating supplies and offering support.

“We are lucky to have an experienced logistics partner in Wm Armstrong to provide guidance and the expert assistance needed to distribute the donations.”

CLRF is made up of different agencies and organisations that are on hand in an emergency to support the communities in Cumbria.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the group has been active across the county providing support in ways similar to the water bottle donations.

Mary Lockwood, RE:ACT North West liaison officer, said: “RE:ACT Disaster Response has been working with Cumbria’s Local Resilience Forum throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the unmet needs of the most vulnerable.”