Tesco is to hold an extra summer food collection to support the Trussell Trust and FareShare in response to an increased need for food in the wake of Covid-19.
From August 20 to 22 special donation points will be put up at every Tesco Superstore and Extra store, with customers being asked to donate essential items of long-life food. Tesco will top up all customer donations with an additional 20% donation in cash to the two charities.
The collection has been organised in direct response to the extra pressures placed on the food banks and community groups which FareShare and the Trussell Trust are supporting during the COVID-19 pandemic. FareShare has seen its highest ever demand for food from the thousands of local charities and community groups it supports, whilst the Trussell Trust has seen need at food banks in its network soar by more than 80%.
Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust said:
“As we look to the coming months, more people than ever are likely to need to use a food bank. This isn’t right. Everyone should be able to afford their own food. That’s why we’re immensely grateful to Tesco and their customers for their ongoing support. Every donation will help food banks in our network provide the best possible emergency help to people referred at an uncertain time.”
Both the Trussell Trust and FareShare have already been aided by Tesco as part of a £30m package of community support in response to the pandemic. That package included donations of surplus food with a value of £9m through FareShare, a £15m donation of extra food to the two charities and £1m between them to help them with their increased running costs.
Tesco Director David Page said:
“This is a really challenging time for the two charities because of the big rise in demand on them for food. Our customers have responded with incredible generosity to our food collections in the past, donating more than 39m meals. I hope they will give generously again because there are a lot of people that need a helping hand at the moment and this appeal will make a real difference to them.”
The extra summer food collection is in addition to the pre-Christmas Tesco Food Collection Tesco holds annually for FareShare and the Trussell Trust in November. It will take place from store opening on Thursday, August 20 to store closing on Saturday, August 22.
You can find what items your local food bank is most in need of here.
