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Tesco is urging people across the UK to donate generously during the sixth Neighbourhood Food Collection, which takes place in all larger Tesco stores from Thursday 2 July until Saturday 4 July, and in all Tesco Express stores from 22 June – 4 July.
The Neighbourhood Food Collection, run by Tesco with partner charities, The Trussell Trust and FareShare, is aiming to provide at least four million meals to people in need this summer as both charities see increased use by families, struggling to put food on the table over the holiday period.
More than a quarter of families rely on the help of grandparents or other extended family just to ensure that their children have sufficient food during the holidays.* More than 800,000 families across the UK also have to pay for childcare throughout the year with costs averaging out at £64 a week.
Josh Hardie, Corporate Social Responsibility Director at Tesco, said:
"It's inspiring that our customers are so generous and give so much to help people in food poverty. At Tesco we want to play our part too, which is why we continue to add an extra 30% to our customers' donations.
"This is now our sixth Neighbourhood Food Collection and we want to keep up the amazing momentum from previous collections. That's why it's so important that we dig deep and do what we can to help people who are in need this summer."
Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare, said:
"Sadly food poverty affects a large number of people across the UK. From homeless hostels to breakfast clubs, women's refuges to luncheon clubs for older people, these frontline organisations need food more than ever, so we're thrilled to partner with Tesco on the Neighbourhood Food Collection again this year.
"Our charity partners who cater for families and children have increased needs over the school holidays, placing resources under greater pressure as the need to continue to provide for our other charity members doesn't decrease. This campaign enables us all to help in a simple, practical way, as every item of food donated will make a difference to vulnerable people in our community."
The Neighbourhood Food Collection relies on, and is bolstered by, volunteers. In November 2014, approximately 20,000 volunteers across the UK were involved in the collection.
FareShare, the UK food redistribution charity, aims to tackle food waste and redistributes good food, which would otherwise be wasted, to frontline charities and community groups. This food is then transformed into nutritious meals for vulnerable people. The organisations they support range from breakfast clubs for disadvantaged children, homeless hostels, luncheon clubs for older people and domestic violence refuges, which provide not only food but also life changing support.
Trussell Trust foodbanks provide three days' emergency food to people in crisis who have been referred by a front-line professional or agency like the Citizens' Advice Bureau. 37% of clients are children and in July to September 2014, over 20,000 more people were referred to a foodbank than in the previous three months. During this period, over 96,000 children in total were provided with three days' emergency food by a Trussell Trust foodbank.
David McAuley, CEO of The Trussell Trust said:
"Over the past year Trussell Trust foodbanks have provided three days' emergency food and support to over 1 million people in crisis, of which nearly 400,000 were children. In July to September of 2014, over 20,000 more people were referred to a foodbank than in the previous 3 months. The summer holidays are a particularly difficult time for families whose children usually receive free school meals. Over the school holiday our foodbanks see a noticeable rise in need as parents already managing extremely tight budgets are pushed into food crisis.
"We're very grateful to Tesco and Tesco customers for their generous donations, not just during the Neighbourhood Food Collection times, but also from the permanent collection points which enable donations year-round, and already this year has accounted for approximately 300 kg on average donated every month."
Food donations to the Neighbourhood Food Collection benefit a range of people across the country, with donations going to either FareShare or The Trussell Trust. Tesco provides a 30% top-up to the charities based on the collective weight of donated goods.
The campaign has collected over 21 million meals for people in need since 2012, which includes the 30% top-up, food raised through permanent collection points in 507 Tesco stores and local collections, plus surplus food from Tesco's fresh food and online grocery distribution centres. The 30% top up is redistributed by the Trussell Trust and FareShare to participating foodbanks and charities.
Tesco is calling for customers to go into store and donate food or contact the local charities to volunteer. Follow @tescoandsociety and #everycanhelps for the latest on the Neighbourhood Food Collection.
ENDS
*Statistics from 'Family Spending, 2014 Edition' from ONS
For media enquiries on the Neighbourhood Food Collection please contact the Tesco press office on 01992 644 645.
For media enquiries on the Trussell Trust and information on case studies, please contact Andy May or Emma Thorogood on andy.may@trusselltrust.org or emma.thorogood@trusselltrust.org or call 020 3137 3699.
For media enquiries on FareShare and information on case studies, please contact Maria Olesen onmaria.olesen@fareshare.org.uk or call 020 7394 2467
Notes to editors
About the Neighbourhood Food Collection:
How to volunteer:
About The Trussell Trust:
About FareShare:
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