Tesco comes together once again in partnership with The Trussell Trust and Fareshare in the fight to stop hunger. #Everycanhelps
Photograph by Creative Commons
The two charities, The Trussell Trust and FareShare worked in partnership with Tesco once again in the lead-up to Christmas to encourage customers to buy extra items in store to donate at the collection points on their way out. The food items donated by the food collection is later distributed by the charities to local food banks and community group to support people who are struggling over the Christmas period to put food on the table.
First launching in 2012, more than 49 million meals have been donated by Tesco customers to the two charities. Volunteers come together over eleven stores across Manchester’s city centre from Thursday 29th November until Saturday 1st December collections points at Tesco’s will be in place in hopes to rise as much as previous years, last year seen over 3 million meals donated nationwide, with Tesco topping up final donations by a further 20 per cent.
“By topping up all customer donations by 20%, we ensure that we don’t profit from any food bought by customers in our stores and then donated to one of our two partner charities. We also encourage thousands of colleagues to take part in collecting and sorting the food, and we deliver all the food collected for FareShare to their 20 regional depots. Furthermore, we pay for all of the marketing materials used to promote the Food Collection.”
To try and improve the success of the food collection, volunteers hand out shopping list to customers to encourage donations of non-perishable food items most needed by the community. All the food that is donated is crucial at this extremely busy time of year, with Christmas fast approaching demand for emergency food is higher than usual and these donations are more important than ever.
| FareShare | Trussell Trust |
|---|---|
| Tinned veg | Tinned meat |
| Tinned soup | Tinned fish |
| Tinned beans | Tinned veg |
| Tinned meat | Tinned fruit |
| Tinned fish | Pasta sauce |
| Pasta | Instant coffee |
| Rice | Tea bags |
| Healthy snacks eg dried fruit, nuts, crackers, oatcakes | Milk (uht or powdered) |
| UHT milk | Fruit juice (long life) |
| Tea | Tinned pudding |
| Coffee | Jam |
| Jams, spreads and preserves | Instant mashed potato |
Data from Tesco PLC
Through FareShare and The Trussell Trust, over 6,700 charities and community groups over the last year received 13,500 tons of food, providing around 28 million meals for people in need.
PHOTOGRAPH
Hungry No More spoke to the representive of the charity The Trussell Trust to find out the importance of their work and the importance of the donations.
NAME OF PERSON, AGE, WHO ARE THEY, WHAT THEY DO? Informed us “QUOTE”
“QUOTE”
“QUOTE”
This collection would no be possible if it was not for all the passionate and caring volunteers who work countless hour from the goodness of their hearts. Claire, 28 from Manchester is a volunteer for the Tesco food collection,
“I’ve been doing this food collection each year for the last 3 years, I was one of those people that relied on food banks when I struggled to feed myself, I felt it was only right to help the cause just like the helped me. I think it is important people continue to support food banks across Manchester, people do not realise how much they help, I would probably would not of seen today if it was not for the food banks and the helpful people that work for them.”
Through charities such as The Trussell Trust and FareShare, annual events such as Tesco food collection and many more, people who find themselves in desperate times due to difficult situation whether it is low income or fighting an addiction, support is available to them.
Next year will see the return of the Tesco food collection but throughout the year the Trussell trust continue to hold events and campaigns to rise as much food and aid for vulnerable people, so why not get involved?
Without these aids people go hungry, families will not eat for days. If you would like to get involved whether it is to donate a meal or volunteering for a local charity, local food banks can be found on the map below or a simple donation can be made via links.
Hungry No More 