Find out how Asda colleagues pulled together during the local floods

The devastation caused by floods around the country recently left many communities in need of support. We were very impressed by the selflessness of local Asda colleagues and customers, who gave up their time to help out in whatever way they could. The help they have given has really highlighted the considerate, sympathetic and hard-working people we have at Asda and in our local communities and we couldn't be prouder. Read on to find out some of the amazing stories from our local Asda stores.5ft of flooding at Rochdale<img alt="rochdale1" class="ci-image ci-original" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/rochdale1_GL?scl=1">After helping with the clear up after Storm Desmond earlier in December, colleagues didn&rsquo;t think twice about helping the communities affected by the second storm, giving up their time over Christmas to help clean up and supply food, clothes, cleaning products and more.When the Rochdale store was hit 5ft of flood water in the warehouse yard and 3ft in the car park, the staff jumped to attention, working tirelessly to clean the store.Colleagues in store on the day were fantastic in making sure customers got out safely and were very helpful in ensuring stock was as well protected as it could be. They worked round the clock to get the store reopened only 48 hours after being hit, ensuring locals were not inconvienced.GSM at Rochdale store, Andrew Taylor, said: “I can&rsquo;t thank all the colleagues, managers and facilities teams who helped us recover enough, they were all a credit to our company.”Dyce store generosity<img alt="dyce" class="ci-image ci-original" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/dyce_GL?scl=1">Dyce store's Donna and Adrian delivered water to their local area that had been affected.Sandwiches from the York store<img alt="york3" class="ci-image ci-original" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/york3_GL?scl=1">In our York store, the team did a great job of making sandwiches to feed the volunteers and flood victims in their area, such as the Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team.Additionally, the store has donated food, hygiene products, essential clothing and cleaning products to eight local community halls to help victims of the floods, to distrubute to 650 properties affected.Our York store&rsquo;s deputy manager, Darren Bakal, said: "Colleagues have been focusing on making sure we are giving great service to all customers and making sure we are providing everyone with the best availability possible and all colleagues are aware that at a store level we are supporting anyone and any colleagues as best we can.“It&rsquo;s times like this that make me feel very proud to work for such a great company as Asda to help and support everyone &ndash; it&rsquo;s time to stand up for the community we have been a part of for years.”Farnworth store raises over £1000 in bag pack<img alt="ba" class="ci-image ci-original" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/ba_GL?scl=1">Asda Farnworth store rallied round to help residents from Stoneclough who suffered from the flooding. They held a bag packing in store which raised over £1000 as well as donating £700 worth of goods via the Asda Foundation.Bishop Auckland also donated mops and buckets to help with the clean-up.Colleagues help out in CumbriaIn Cumbria colleagues have been providing essential supplies and taking part in the clean-up campaign. Niki Iveson, Community Life Champion at Asda Carlisle, also helped out at the Big Cumbria Christmas Day Get Together, a festive gathering at eight venues across Cumbria. She delivered soft drinks and gifts for the whole event, thanks to a donation from the Asda Foundation.Glasgow police thank Toryglen store<img alt="screen_shot_2016-01-11_at_11.57.10" class="ci-image ci-original" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/screen_shot_2016-01-11_at_11.57.10_GL?scl=1">In Glasgow the police tweeted to thank colleagues at our Toryglen store who pushed cars clear of the floods.Bury donates supplies<img alt="cxafirswaai7hu1" class="ci-image ci-original" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/cxafirswaai7hu1_GL?scl=1">In Bury colleagues donated essential supplies to help with the clean-up effort. Thanks to Karen who tweeted this pictureThe Asda FoundationAt management level, the Asda Foundation charity is boosting its local disaster fund to £500,000 to help local communities cope after terrible events like the recent floods.The fund is used to provide community groups and charities with food, water, clothing, cleaning materials and products and support during the clean-up. It also puts a colleague hardship fund in place to support Asda colleagues whose homes have been affected by local disasters.Alex Simpson, chair of the Asda Foundation, said: "This is an extremely challenging time for families and communities, and could not come at a worse time of year for them.“Store colleagues have been absolutely fantastic in supporting their neighbours &ndash; from joining the clean-ups in their areas to providing emergency supplies to community groups and charities to distribute where they&rsquo;re needed the most.“Our store managers and Community Life Colleagues are really leading this drive on the ground and the decision to increase our local disaster fund to £500,000 to help them do this was an easy one for the trustees to make.”You can find out more about the work of the Asda Foundation on their <a href="https://www.asdafoundation.org">website</a>. A big thank you again to all colleagues for their support over these devastating times.Do you have a story of how Asda has helped your local community during the floods? Don&rsquo;t forget to share it below.

Asda colleagues around the country rally to help flood hit communities

By Asda Good Living,11th January 2016

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