People on the Isle of Wight are being urged to give the gift of their time to take part in the UK’s biggest food donation drive.
The Tesco Food Collection is taking place in Tesco stores from 30th November to 2nd December, with the Trussell Trust and FareShare are urging volunteers to sign-up to support the event.
It comes as both charities face their busiest winter yet, with more people turning to them for support. The Trussell Trust, which has the largest foodbank network in the UK, is expecting to distribute more than 1 million emergency food parcels between December and February, while FareShare has over 1,500 frontline charities on its waiting list seeking food.
During the collection, Isle of Wight customers will be encouraged to donate long-life food to support the charities in their work. Donations for the Trussell Trust will help its network of food banks provide emergency food parcels to people who cannot afford the essentials, while donations to FareShare will get food to its network of local charities and community groups.
Tesco is calling on volunteers to staff its store collection points to raise awareness of the impact every donation will have on people who rely on Trussell Trust and FareShare for food. Donations are needed now more than ever, with 1 in 5 Trussell Trust food parcels coming from Tesco and its customers.
Trussell Trust Chief Executive Emma Revie said:
“This Winter is going to be the toughest yet for the food banks in our network, as they will help approximately 600,000 people and provide an emergency parcel every 8 seconds. The teams in our food banks are working tirelessly to ensure everyone receives the support they need, but they cannot do it alone.
“By volunteering at the Tesco Winter Food Collection, you will not only be helping to gather much-needed donations to keep your local food bank going, you’ll also be making a real difference to families who cannot afford the essentials in your community. If you can spare a few hours to volunteer, then please do.”
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George Wright, chief executive at FareShare, added:
“We anticipate need will keep rising as people continue to struggle to afford the essentials like food and heating this winter. Tesco’s support for FareShare throughout the cost-of-living crisis and the last 11 years has been unwavering, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support in helping drive more donations during what will be a difficult winter for many.
“Volunteers play a huge role in the success of the Tesco Food Collection each year. By giving up just 3 hours of your time, you can make a huge impact by helping more people understand the importance of donating food to FareShare during this increasingly difficult time.”
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said:
“Every year our Winter Food Collection gets such an amazing response from our customers. We know that they give even more generously when we have volunteers in our stores, helping them to choose the right items that are needed, so we would urge anyone who can to please sign up and help make a difference.”
People on the Isle of Wight can sign up to volunteer with FareShare at https://fareshare.org.uk/foodcollection or with the Trussell Trust at https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/tesco-food-collection/volunteer.
Whilst it makes us all feel better off ourselves to give food to those who pled poverty, it must be remembered that everyone is equal in the Uk
So if some can manage to feed themselves and every other life they have bought into their impoverished world then all should be able to with our overly generous welfare state which our taxes fund.
So I shall give nothing as often it is the very low life, readers complain of being antisocial who get this aid
Unpopular view but nevertheless true
I won’t be giving for the same reason. These scroungers get plenty of help already. Take away their benefits and give them basic food rations, with nothing processed. No pizzas, no frozen chips, no chicken nuggets, etc. Just give them vegetables, flour, eggs, some meat, and the bare essentials to eat properly. Give them some cooking lessons and leave them to it.
The biggest problem is not poverty it’s money management. People need to realise they should prioritise food over the latest clothes, phones, smart watches etc…
Not an unpopular view, actually.
Too many people using foodbanks and receiving benefits have more disposable income than many of those who work for a living on low wages.
Personally, I can’t afford an iPhone, or have subscriptions to Netflix or whatever, but I do know plenty of people who claim benefits and free school meals for their kids who do.
Handouts really should be only for those who are desperate and a temporary measure and not those who choose a life on benefits as a lifestyle choice.
Very well said, totally agree.
So Tesco want you to give up your time to man their collection points, pay for food to give to them for their “charity” drive, all so that they can lay claim to having helped people. No thanks Tesco, if you are so concerned about this then donate food for free. No collection points then needed and you can rightly claim to have helped.
No chance, I’d rather help animals than scroungers that can’t manage the vast amount of hand outs they already get given.
Read an article this morning, stating all that are in receipt of certain benefits can claim vouchers to be spent in certain supermarkets (£150) …..
Last year it was £125 …..
I was behind a person who had such voucher,,,,,, and I didn’t realise wine gin whisky were essential food items ?!?!….
It should be only for food !!!!!
And also means tested
…
I know some people really do struggle through no fault of their own, but some do take the PI -S…..
Thought this article would bring the regular self-righteous brigade out of the woodwork.
Not disappointed.
Sorry bit late, some of us have to work for a living…
utter disgrace, most of these sponging lowlives get their rent paid, their council tax paid, they get benefit money to pay for elec/gas/water/sky tv/mobile phones, then they get tax credits, child benefit, free prescriptions, free dental and finally a food bank referal.
and now you want us to give our time to help these deadbeat freeloaders – I think not
I clicked on both links and it appears volunteers are not required on the Isle of Wight. Or am I not seeing it right??
Too wealthy from drug dealing, pretending to be single parents, working on the sly to need aid in most all so self proclaimed poverty stricken spongers.
No rent or council tax just by using no contraception gives all an easy lazy and lucrative lifestyle. HENCE the shortage of young workers now.
There is a lot to be said for bringing back the workhouses ….