Foodbank: Customers respond generously to Carrickfergus collection

Generous Tesco customers have set the bar high in Carrickfergus by donating food for an incredible 4,077 meals during the eighth Neighbourhood Food Collection.
Margaret Haggan and Vanessa Postle volunteers for Carrickfergus Foodbank. INCT 29-702-CONMargaret Haggan and Vanessa Postle volunteers for Carrickfergus Foodbank. INCT 29-702-CON
Margaret Haggan and Vanessa Postle volunteers for Carrickfergus Foodbank. INCT 29-702-CON

It took place between June 30 and July 2 in partnership with Tesco and charity partners The Trussell Trust and Fareshare.

For many people, emergency food is just the first step in helping them access other services and support which can help get their lives back on track.

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Carrickfergus Foodbank, part of The Trussell Trust Foodbank Network, collected in the Minorca Place store.

In 2015-16, Carrickfergus Foodbank provided 332 three day emergency food supplies to local people in crisis.

Gwen Smyth, Foodbank manager, said: “We want to say a massive thank you to everyone in Carrickfergus who took part in this summer’s Neighbourhood Food Collection. We saw some incredible donations from people in the community.

“Whether you donated or volunteered in store this year, we want to say a sincere thank you because your generosity and support has a direct impact. It is only with the support of local people that the foodbank is able to continue giving vital help when someone is hit by something like illness, redundancy or an unexpected bill.”

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During the collection, customers were asked to donate non-perishable food items such as long-life milk, tinned vegetables and tinned fish. Thirty-one volunteers from the Carrickfergus Foodbank joined with supermarket staff to collect donations from kind-hearted customers. Tesco then topped up all donations by 20 per cent.