Comedienne Our Trace helping food bank to thrive and prosper
A Black Country comedienne has been working to help a local food bank after being inspired by their work.
Tracey Rhodes, also known as Our Trace, has been making regular donations to Residents R Us, a food bank based in Beechdale in Walsall.
Mrs Rhodes said the work the food bank was doing was inspiring for the number of groups and people it helped.
She said: "When lockdown first started, they dished out food parcels to residents around the area in Beechdale.
"Since then, they've been giving out food parcels and clothing helping people who are underprivileged and elderly, single parents, women who have been subjected to domestic abuse and homeless people.
"They've looked to help all the people in that tight-knit community who are underprivileged by raising money and food to help them, so it's something I've really wanted to help."
She also said the food bank had been helped by the generosity of an entertainment promoter from Rochdale called Tosh Brogan.
She said: "I know Tosh from talking to him on Facebook and he offered to raffle off a signed boxing glove by Mike Tyson for me.
"He said the money raised from the raffle could go to any charity of my choice, so I chose Residents R Us and they've received a donation of £300, which was great."
Mrs Rhodes said she had been able to use her public image as Our Trace to help the food bank through raffles such as the boxing glove and spoke about what it meant to her to be able to do the work she had.
She said: "It really means the world to me to help a group like this because I can see what it means to them and it's just so satisfying to be able to do just even a little bit as every little helps.
"Going forward, we've got lots of donations coming in from people and organisations and I'll keep doing the work to get more donations in.
"We're planning to do a show in October with Our Trace and a singer to raise money, so there's lots to look forward to."
