Ben is joined by Lorraine Lewis of The Lewis Foundation and Barry Tong of Sol Retail.
The Lewis Foundation works to provide comfort and support to those going through cancer treatment by proving them with packs of supplies during their hospital stays. This includes support packs of toiletries and underwear, gifts such as books, and simply spending time with those going through an incredibly difficult period in their lives.
Delivering support
The charity began eight and a half years ago, and now delivers 2000 packs a month to 17 hospitals across the Midlands, spreading through word of mouth. Even more hospitals are getting in touch all the time, and they hope to be able to expand their services as wide as they possibly can.
Meanwhile, Barry founded Sol Retail after a string of successes selling on eBay, eventually expanding into Amazon and now works directly with brands to retail their products internationally.
When Barry met Helen
Barry and Helen met six years ago after Helen’s husband, Lee, met Barry while fundraising in a local Sainsbury’s. He offered his help and provided some additional prizes for a tombola they were running and has continued to provide business advice ever since. He recognised they were on a similar journey, starting with nothing and trying to build something lasting.
Most recently, Barry has assisted the foundation with their surplus stock initiative. Retailers have been donating their excess stock to the foundation for sale in the Lewis Foundation shops in Northampton and Luton. This helps business clear storage space in the warehouses, the charity by giving them more things to sell, and the consumer by offering them products at a lower price. Products available include beauty products, toiletries, homeware and more.
This initiative has given the Lewis Foundation a sustainable income source which has allowed them to grow more readily, responding quicker to new hospitals coming on board and enabling them to better serve their existing partners.
This is a unique example of the commercial and charity sectors working together. Barry explains that the Lewis Foundation have never asked him for money, and that this has allowed for a novel collaboration to emerge, one in which they work directly together rather than simply taking donations.
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