Food parcels for food banks can be bought and donated at Morrisons

The pre-packed bags of groceries have been designed around the needs of local food banks

Food parcels for those in need can now be bought and donated at Morrisons’ checkouts.

The supermarket’s new ‘Pick Up Packs’ cost between £1 and £3 and contain a mix of food products that have been requested by the local food bank based on their requirements.

The packs are the brainchild of Morrisons colleague Michelle Leary, from Basingstoke, who noticed that customers struggled with what to donate to food banks. Food banks are often overwhelmed by products such as rice and pasta and short of other items that people actually need.

The pre-packed parcels mean that customers don’t need to spend time browsing the shelves for items to donate. After a successful trial, they are now being rolled out nationally.

Customers can easily pick one up at the start of their shop and pay for it at the till with the rest of their shopping. The pack is then put aside and collected by volunteers working for the food bank.

A spokesperson for Heywood Foodbank said: "These packs are a great idea. It’s a great way to donate what is needed. Our local Morrisons have been fantastic during lock down and beyond. They have increased donation points in the store and they donate big van loads more or less each week."

Rochdale Foodbank has been benefiting from this new Morrisons scheme for a couple of weeks already.

The 'Pick Up Packs' are made up by Emma Pedgrift, Community Champion at Morrisons on Kingsway and priced from 50 pence. The contents of the packs purchased by shoppers are then collected by the foodbank along with Morrisons weekly donations of food.

Rochdale Foodbank trustee Steve Field said: "Rochdale Foodbank is extremely grateful for these donations from Morrisons and from other local supermarkets at a time when the number of clients needing our support is once again rising significantly."

Rebecca Singleton, Community Director at Morrisons, said: “The UK’s food banks are a lifeline for the most vulnerable in our communities and these parcels are an easy way to donate to them.

“At Morrisons, we want to play our full part in feeding the nation and ensure nobody gets left behind.”

The ‘Pick Up Pack’ initiative is part of Morrisons’ drive to restock Britain’s food banks and continue feeding the nation, particularly those who are vulnerable and struggling with the economic fallout of Covid-19.