Tesco Food Collection has teamed up with FoodShare and The Trussell Trust to launch a nationwide campaign to feed low income families this Christmas at foodbanks across the borough, Susie Kellie writes…
The Christmas Food Collection launches on Thursday November 29th 2018 until Saturday December 1st 2018 across all Tesco Metro and Tesco Extra stores sites.
The shopping lists will contain a range of lifelong foods needed to create meals for low income families and people living on benefits. All donations collected will be shared across food banks in Bermondsey, Camberwell and Peckham.
In 2017, Southwark Borough fed 20,400 residents.
This year all three organisations plan on increasing this number and need as many volunteers as possible handing out flyers and encouraging shoppers donate food into any of the donation baskets located at the front of all stores. Tesco has also pledged to top up all donations by 20 per cent.
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Southwark has the fourth highest rates of unemployment. According to a report published by the London Poverty Profile. Roughly 6.5 per cent of residents living in the borough are unemployed and poverty in Southwark is 31 per cent higher than the capitals average of just 27 per cent.
Tesco UK CEO Jason Tarry said: “Together we can make a real difference this Christmas through Tesco’s Food Collection scheme. Our customers have been incredibly generous in recent years and with the help of volunteers we hope to collect even more this year to support those who really need it.”
FareShare CEO, Lindsay Boswell, believes volunteers play a vital role when it comes to feeding the residents in the borough. She said: “Volunteers collect an average of 600 meals per three-hour shift, so we really can’t overestimate how important their contribution is. If you can spare a few hours to volunteer in your local store please do, and please encourage your friends, family and colleagues to get involved as well. You’ll be making an enormous difference.”
Southwark residents can find information about local stores supporting FareShare and sign up to volunteer at: https://fareshare.org.uk/get-involved/tesco-food-collection/
Or find information about local stores supporting The Trussell Trust’s Foodbank Network and sign up to volunteer at www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/tesco-food-collection/volunteer/