The annual drive aims to help those struggling with hunger and food poverty (Image: Humphrey Nemar)
Millions of shoppers will ensure Tesco lives up to its motto when the supermarket giant’s Winter Food Collection starts today.
Britain’s biggest retailer is known for its slogan Every Little Helps – a strapline that encapsulates how tiny things add up to make a big difference.
And as the number experiencing food poverty and hunger in Britain grows, the heroic efforts of customers and staff are being felt where help is needed most.
This week shoppers have the chance to donate urgently-needed non-perishable items for those who are forced to rely on food banks, produce distributed via anti-poverty charities Trussell and FareShare.
And, for the first time, pre-packed donation bags can be purchased in-store giving customers a hassle-free way to make a big difference.
Don’t miss…
Shoppers can donate in store or purchase pre-packed bags of long-life food to those in need (Image: Humphrey Nemar)
The customer-led and fanfare-free initiative, which sees packs of biscuits, boxes of tea, cereals, powdered milk, tinned meat and rice puddings handed over, all adds up to making a significant impact on a crisis blighting Britain.
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We’ve worked closely in partnership with FareShare and Trussell for over a decade, and in that time we’ve seen an ongoing increased demand for their services which makes this year’s Winter Food Collection so important. The generosity of our customers is something we’re always so grateful for as every item donated makes such a difference and allows us to provide help where it’s most needed in communities across the UK.”
Trussell runs a community of food banks providing emergency food and practical support for those left without enough money to live on. Its analysis shows nearly one quarter of children under four face hunger and hardship – making them the age group most at risk of food poverty. Meanwhile, a record 9.3 million people in the UK now face hunger and hardship.
In the past year, 3.1 million emergency food parcels were provided by UK food banks with the level of need growing as people struggle in the grip of a deepening cost-of-living crisis.
FareShare says the 8,000 charity partners and community groups it supports have witnessed an 86% increase in people accessing their services, while more than two in three of their partner charities are seeing more people accessing support for the first time.
The Daily Express is proud to support Tesco’s Winter Food Collection, the biggest in the UK, which runs in both its Express and large stores until Saturday.
Ms De Silva said: “We want to make donating as easy as possible for customers but also make sure the charities are getting the food items they really need the most. That’s where the idea for pre-packed donation bags came from. They’re priced between £2 and £5 and are an easy way for customers to donate while they do their regular weekly shop. They’ll be in all large stores and 86 of our biggest Express stores so I’d encourage everyone to pick one up and help to make a big difference.
“Every year we provide financial support to both Trussell and FareShare but discussed the pinch points for families, which were during the holiday periods, and so we donated an additional £500,000 to both [this year] to help them help more families.
“We’re really proud of these partnerships, but the extra donations from customers during the Winter Food Collection is a little help that can really make a huge impact.”