British supermarket chain Tesco is urging shoppers to donate generously to the sixth Neighbourhood Food Collection in its larger UK Tesco stores and Tesco Express stores this weekend.
The Neighbourhood Food Collection, run by Tesco with partner charities, The Trussell Trust and FareShare, is aiming to provide at least four million meals to people in need this summer as both charities see increased use by families, struggling to purchase food over the summer holiday period.
Speaking on the initiative, Josh Hardie, corporate social responsibility director at Tesco, said: “It’s inspiring that our customers are so generous and give so much to help people in food poverty. At Tesco we want to play our part too, which is why we continue to add an extra 30 per cent to our customers’ donations.
Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of FareShare, added: “Sadly food poverty affects a large number of people across the UK." Frontline organisations now need food more than ever. “This campaign enables us all to help in a simple, practical way, as every item of food donated will make a difference to vulnerable people in our community.”
The Neighbourhood Food Collection relies on volunteers. In November 2014, approximately 20,000 volunteers across the UK were involved in the collection.
FareShare, the UK food redistribution charity, aims to tackle food waste and redistributes good food, which would otherwise be wasted, to frontline charities and community groups. This food is then transformed into nutritious meals for vulnerable people. The organisations they support range from breakfast clubs for disadvantaged children, homeless hostels, luncheon clubs for older people and domestic violence refuges, which provide not only food but also life-changing support.
Trussell Trust foodbanks provide three days’ emergency food to people in crisis who have been referred by a front-line professional or agency like the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. David McAuley, CEO of The Trussell Trust, said: “We’re very grateful to Tesco and Tesco customers for their generous donations, not just during the Neighbourhood Food Collection times, but also from the permanent collection points which enable donations year-round, and already this year has accounted for approximately 300 kg on average donated every month.”
Food donations to the Neighbourhood Food Collection, which ends in-store today, benefit a range of people across the country, with donations going to either FareShare or The Trussell Trust. Tesco provides a 30 per cent top-up to the charities - based on the collective weight of donated goods.
The campaign has collected over 21 million meals for people in need since 2012, food raised through permanent collection points in 507 Tesco stores and local collections, plus surplus food from Tesco’s fresh food and online grocery distribution centres. The 30 per cent top up is redistributed by the Trussell Trust and FareShare to participating foodbanks and charities.
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news.
