This winter, charities FareShare and the Trussell Trust are facing unprecedented demand for their support. With more people in Wiltshire expected to rely on their assistance, Tesco is urging customers to contribute to their Food Collection, running in Wiltshire Express stores until December 2nd and in larger stores from November 30th to December 2nd.
Customers are encouraged to donate long-life food items that are crucial for the charities to provide aid. The top 10 most-needed items from Wiltshire shoppers include UHT & powdered milk, tinned meat and fish, sponge/rice pudding, long-life fruit juice, cooking/pasta sauces, tinned vegetables, tinned and dried soup, pasta, rice and noodles, cereal and porridge, and tea and coffee.
Tesco Group CEO Ken Murphy expressed gratitude towards the generous customers who have collectively donated over 100 million meals in the last decade. He emphasized the significant impact that even the smallest donation can have on someone else’s Christmas.
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The Trussell Trust anticipates distributing over 1 million emergency food parcels between December and February, with 320,000 individuals accessing a food bank for the first time in the past six months. FareShare expects to redistribute more than 28,000 tonnes of food this winter, equivalent to over 68 million meals, signifying a significant increase compared to last year.
By donating essential items at local Tesco stores, individuals can play a crucial role in providing meals for those experiencing hunger this winter. The support provided by Tesco and its customers is invaluable to the food banks, particularly during this time of heightened need.
As part of the lead-up to the Food Collection, Tesco and its charity partners have unveiled an alternative to the traditional Trafalgar Square Christmas tree. Located in Trafalgar Square in Scarborough, the tree is constructed from much-needed items such as tinned fruit and vegetables, long life milk, and cooking sauces. This initiative aims to raise awareness of the escalating demand for support and encourage customers to donate at their local store.
Once the tree is dismantled, all 1,699 products used in its construction will be donated to the local FareShare hub, further aiding in the efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity.