A Darlington law firm has donated £2,000 to support community groups bringing emergency support to vulnerable people through lockdown.
Latimer Hinks Solicitors, in Darlington, made the pledge to County Durham Community Foundation’s Covid-19 Response Fund.
The fund, which now stands at £200,000 from its Crowdfunder page and private donations, was launched three days before the UK lockdown began.
The money donated by local people and businesses is now helping community groups supplying food and essentials to people self-isolating or suffering financial hardship. In addition, groups have also been funded to make PPE for key workers, set up support phone lines, and to help patients leave hospital safely.
Thousands of individuals and families across Darlington and County Durham have been supported through the fund.
Latimer Hinks has worked with the County Durham Community Foundation since 2002 and has donated more than £68,000 to help local good causes.
Natalie Palmer, a director at Latimer Hinks Solicitors, said: “Supporting our local community has always been a key part of our business objective. From organising Charity Balls to donating to local causes, we feel a responsibility to help the community in which we all live and work.
“It’s humbling to hear just how much our recent donation has helped others and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to make a difference, particularly at difficult times like these.”
Michelle Cooper, chief executive for County Durham Community Foundation, said: “As news of Coronavirus came through, we knew we had to do something. Since 1996 we have been supporting the groups in our community who reach out to the most disadvantaged, the most vulnerable and the most isolated. But these groups cannot function without funding, especially at a time when fundraising events are impractical.
“Together with businesses like Latimer Hinks, we have been able to build an appeal that has given us thousands of pounds with which to support our communities. We are overwhelmed by the support we’ve been given, and it has confirmed for us that County Durham and Darlington are populated by generous, kind-hearted people.”
