Every Litte Helps – generous shoppers have donated 1.9 million meals for the needy (Image: Humphrey Nemar)
Tesco boss Ken Murphy applauded the generosity of loyal shoppers who helped donate 1.9 million meals to the needy this Christmas.
Items given to the retail giant’s Winter Food Collection – backed by this newspaper – will ensure those suffering hunger and hardship are given a helping hand.
The food was donated during a weeklong drive last month in support for charities FareShare and Trussell.
Mr Murphy said: “I just want to say a huge thank you to every single person who donated items at this year’s Winter Food Collection. Their generosity is always so amazing and really helps to make a huge impact in communities across the UK.”
Donations to Trussell help food banks – lifeline services in every community in Britain – provide emergency parcels to people who cannot afford the essentials, while donations to FareShare support thousands of frontline local charities.
Trussell distributed 47,700 parcels solely to OAPs between April and September.
Overall, nearly one quarter of children under four and a record 9.3 million people in the UK are now facing hunger and hardship.
In the past year, 3.1 million emergency parcels have been provided by food banks with the level of need growing exponentially as people simply do not have enough money to get by.
The boss of Britain’s biggest retailer has praised loyal customers for their generosity (Image: Parsons media)
This winter will see unprecedented demand as bills rise.
Britain’s biggest retailer is known for its slogan Every Little Helps – the tiny things that add up to make a big difference.
And as the number experiencing food poverty and hunger grows the heroic efforts of customers are being felt on the ground.
This year, for the first time, customers were able to purchase pre-packed donation bags in-store giving them a hassle-free way to make a big difference.
Emma Revie, chief executive of Trussell, said: “Food banks in the Trussell community are a last resort for people who’ve been left facing hunger and hardship. They’re a lifeline, offering a warm welcome and space to be heard. But with so many people unable to afford the essentials right now, food banks continue to provide exceptionally high levels of emergency food, with many telling us they are at breaking point.
“Just over 1.4 million emergency food parcels were provided across the UK by food banks in our community, between April and September this year.
“We are so grateful to Tesco for supporting food banks to get through this season by organising this year’s Winter Food Collection. Thank you to customers for coming out in support of your local food bank, to ensure they can continue helping everyone in your local community who is facing hunger and hardship this winter. Together we can end hunger for good.”
Ms De Silva said help will be targeted where it is most needed this Christmas (Image: Humphrey Nemar)
Throughout the year Tesco donates unsold food to FareShare as part of its Community Food Connection scheme. That, coupled with the Winter Food Collection drive which ran between November 25 and 30, means Tesco and its customers have given the equivalent of more than 39 million meals to both charities.
In addition, £340,000 was passed to the charities by customers rounding up bills at the till and donating through a link from Tesco’s online groceries website.
Kristopher Gibbon-Walsh, boss of FareShare, said: “Every year, we are blown away by the generosity of Tesco customers at the Winter Food Collection, and this year is no exception.
“Thank you to every single person that volunteered in-store, donated an item of food, topped up their shopping bill, or made a donation to FareShare. Your kind support will ensure we can continue getting food out into the community, bringing people together and strengthening communities this winter.”
With both charities needing support all year round shoppers can continue to donate food at permanent collection points at every Tesco store in the UK, or make a donation after their online shop.
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. 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.”