Tesco thanks after customers support food collection charity

Ann Ritchie joins with colleagues at Tesco Carrickfergus to say thank you to all those who donated to the foodbank collection run by Trussell Trust in Larne. Pictured are Ann Ritchie, Janine Sloan, Gareth Mills and Phyllis Van-Rietvelde. INCT 30-430-RM

The event was part of a province-wide drive which saw almost 90,000 meals collected for the Trussell Trust and NI FareShare, making this year’s event the most successful ever.

On the 5th and 6th of July, Tesco customers were encouraged to pick up an extra item of food from a selected shopping list and donate it at the end of their shop, with Tesco then topping up all donations by 30 percent.

FareShare is a unique charity fighting hunger by redistributing surplus food to 60 local Northern Ireland charities ranging from homeless shelters and women’s refuges to children’s breakfast clubs and luncheon clubs for the elderly.

Donations in store by Tesco customers help the charity to get hold of cupboard essentials to complement the fresh produce it receives from the food industry.

By ensuring good food is not wasted, FareShare helps to feed thousands of people every day across the United Kingdom.

The collection also supported the Trussell Trust, whose nine Northern Ireland food banks provide three days of emergency food to individuals and families in crisis.

Frontline care professionals including doctors and social workers refer people who are facing hunger to the foodbank. People using the service are welcomed, listened to and signposted to agencies who are able to help resolve the underlying cause of the problem.

“To all our generous customers in Northern Ireland, we say a huge thank you,” said Brendan Guidera, Operations Director for Tesco Northern Ireland.

“Special thanks go the customers of our Carrickfergus store who have donated a staggering 3,152 meals, which will be distributed locally to those in need.

“This is the UK’s biggest food collection event and with your help, we collected enough food for almost 90,000 families, elderly people and children facing crisis, many through no fault of their own.

“Northern Irish people have big hearts and we are privileged to be able to tap into this to support the charities. ”

In total, across the UK, the collection, coupled with a 30 percent top up by Tesco, gave enough food to provide 3.5 million meals to those in difficulty.

This is the second collection event run with Tesco for Trussell Trust and FoodShare, with the next one scheduled in the busy pre-Christmas period in December.