Tesco stores holding extra food collections to support Trussell Trust and FareShare

Donation points for the Trussell Trust and FareShare will be introduced at every Tesco Superstore and Extra store from Thursday until Saturday.

Shoppers are being asked to donate donate essential items of long-life food to help the charities as they contend with an increased demand for food.

Tesco will top up all customer donations with an additional 20 per cent cash donation to the two charities.

FareShare has seen its highest-ever demand for food from the thousands of groups it supports, while the need at food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network has soared by more than 80 per cent.

Tesco director David Page said: “Our customers have responded with incredible generosity to our food collections in the past, donating more than 39 million meals.

“I hope they will give generously again because there are a lot of people that need a helping hand at the moment.”

Jonny Astill, Trussell Trust area manager for Falkirk, said: “Over the last few months, we’ve been truly humbled to see how much people in Falkirk are willing to give and the difference this can make when someone is in crisis.

“As we look to the coming months, more people than ever are likely to need to use a food bank.

“Every donation made during Tesco’s summer food collection will help food banks provide the best possible emergency help to people referred at an uncertain time.”

Lynne Collie, FareShare’s depot supervisor for Central and South East Scotland, added: “Applications from charities and community groups needing vital food supplies have tripled since the start of the lockdown.

“The crisis is far from over and we are incredibly thankful to Tesco for running this emergency food collection as it will ensure we can continue to support frontline charities helping to feed those who are most vulnerable right now.”

The two food charities have already been aided by Tesco as part of a £30 million 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.

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.

Tesco customers who are unable to give to the collection in-store can now also support the Trussell Trust and FareShare by donating their Tesco Clubcard vouchers.

Full details can be found at the Tesco Clubcard website.

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