Transport solutions technology provider Zeelo recently supported the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation’s annual dinner by offering complimentary shuttle services and dedicating volunteer hours to the event. The fundraising dinner gathers changemakers, partners, and supporters in the fight against hunger and malnutrition in the UK and around the world, and this year’s event marked its 20th anniversary.
Since its launch in 2005, the foundation has built a network of charity partners and expanded its scope beyond just food aid and now also focuses on addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity. In alignment with the event’s goals, Zeelo provided accessible, carbon-neutral transport for guests and volunteers, replacing an estimated 60 return taxi journeys with four shared coaches operated by Brighton & Hove’s Spirit of Sussex coach division. The company says its intervention saved an estimated £2,029 in transport costs, reducing the average cost per guest from £11.80 to zero. The service also prevented between 0.24 and 0.6 tonnes of CO˜ emissions depending on vehicle type, while eliminating over 1,000 minutes of combined congestion and cutting 720 miles of unnecessary travel, Zeelo says.
“Supporting the Stop Hunger Foundation and the work of Sodexo is a natural fit for Zeelo,” said
co-founder and CEO Sam Ryan.
“Transportation is a critical enabler of opportunity, and we’re proud to contribute in a way that removes barriers and supports a cause that resonates with our own values around equity and access.”
In addition to shuttle transport for the event, Zeelo staff were deployed on the ground managing the evening’s transport requirements, with the service operated by Zeelo partner Brighton & Hove Buses. The event raised £292,300. “We are incredibly grateful to Zeelo for their generosity and to their team of volunteers helping out on the night,” said Claire Atkins Morris, Sustainability Director, Sodexo UK & Ireland. “This is an important event in our calendar and a special one this year as we celebrate 20 years of the Foundation. The provision of a seamless transport service for our guests embodies the spirit of our partnership, enabling vital funds to support the valuable work of the Stop Hunger Foundation as well as supporting our drive to reduce carbon emissions wherever possible.”
