The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a generous donation to a South London food bank after thieves raided its warehouse, stealing thousands of pounds worth of essential goods.
Workers at Southwark Foodbank’s warehouse in Peckham were met with empty shelves on Monday morning, following a burglary that occurred in the early hours of Sunday. The food bank, operated by the charity Pecan, said the thieves took food, a laptop, and a phone, leaving a trail of damage in their wake.
In response to the devastating theft, William and Kate donated £3,500 to Pecan, which will cover the cost of the stolen goods and repair the damage caused by the break-in. Peter Edwards, the charity’s chief executive, praised the royal couple for their compassion during such a difficult time for their own family.
“This surprise donation by the Prince and Princess of Wales – following such a difficult spell for their family – underlines their kindness and decency,” Mr. Edwards said. Their generosity will inspire staff and volunteers to redouble Pecan’s efforts to alleviate poverty in London.”
Since the break-in, the food bank has seen an “overwhelming reaction” from the local community, with donations and support pouring in from individuals, businesses, and the local authority. Mr. Edwards expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, which he said helped lift the spirits of staff and volunteers after such a distressing discovery.
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ donation was also publicly acknowledged by Pecan on social media. In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the charity wrote: “A huge thank you to @Kensingtonroyal who have donated to the recovery effort following the theft of £3k of food supplies from @southwarkfoodbk. All at @Pecan121a have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from across society. Food stocks are being replenished now.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers were called to the warehouse at 9:02 AM on Monday. While the investigation is ongoing, no arrests have been made so far.
Pecan has encouraged anyone wishing to help to donate through the link: bankuet.co.uk/southwark.
