Volunteers and donations needed for families facing financial hardship
Tesco is calling on kind-hearted people in Inverness to support the UK’s biggest food donation event, to support families facing financial hardship.
Working with the Trussell Trust and FareShare to collect food donations, there is a call out for volunteers to help out at collection points in stores during the Tesco food collection.
Every can or packet donated will make a difference, with the Trussell Trust’s network of food bank centres across the UK reporting a 14 per cent increase in food parcels handed out last year and more than 75 per cent of the charity and community groups supplied by FareShare reporting an increase in demand.
The two charities have now put a call out for volunteers to help in stores during the Tesco food collection, which takes place at the supermarket’s bigger stores from June 30 to July 2. During the collection customers will be asked to donate long-life food to help food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network provide food parcels to people facing financial hardship and to help FareShare in supporting charities and community groups across the UK.
Volunteers play a vital role in speaking to customers, encouraging them to donate, and helping them to choose items that are most-needed by local food banks and charities. Tesco will top up all the food donated during the collection with an additional 20 per cent cash donation to the charities to support them in their work.
Trussell Trust CEO Emma Revie said: “As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, millions of people across the country are struggling to survive. We know that too many families will be forced to use a food bank over the coming months because they are unable to afford the essentials.
“Supporting the Tesco Food Collection this summer by volunteering could make all the difference to your local food bank during this busy period.”
Graeme Robbie, development manager at FareShare Grampian, Highlands and Islands, added: “The cost-of-living crisis is having a huge impact on thousands of families across the UK and our charities are telling us that demand for their services continues to grow as a result.
“We would be hugely grateful to anyone who is able to volunteer at the Tesco Food Collection this summer to encourage more shoppers to donate food to FareShare, so we can support those who need it most.”
