Middleton shoppers asked to support UK’s biggest charity food collection

Shoppers in Middleton are being asked to help people in need this Christmas by donating food during the UK’s biggest food collection.

The Tesco Food Collection launches across the supermarket’s stores today, with customers invited to give long-life food to support the work of charities, the Trussell Trust and FareShare, helping people who cannot afford to feed themselves and their families. 

The long-life food donated to food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network is given in emergency food parcels to people referred because they don’t have enough money coming in to cover essential costs. Food donated to FareShare is distributed to charities and community groups who use it to provide meals for vulnerable groups such as isolated older people and those in homeless shelters. 

Last year generous shoppers donated more than 3.5 million meals-worth of food during the Tesco Food Collection and this year the supermarket is hoping to exceed that figure. Once again Tesco will be topping up the value of the customer donations by an additional 20 per cent to help the charities in their work. 

The Lighthouse Project, which opened its doors in Middleton nine years ago, runs a foodbank for people in crisis, where they can collect emergency food parcels. Through the project, local people can access services they require to learn new skills and become more independent, socially and financially.

The group also runs the Lighthouse Pantry, a scheme whereby people living on the breadline can pay a weekly subscription towards household costs. The pantry provides a much-needed lifeline to people at risk at falling into crisis.

Carl Roach, development manager for Inspire Middleton, the charity which runs the Lighthouse Project, says: “It takes roughly £160,000 to cover our annual basic costs so any extra support, such as food donations from Tesco, makes a huge difference to what we’re able to provide.

“Unfortunately, foodbank use is on the up and we’re seeing more struggling people than ever who need our help.

“We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who’s supporting the Food Collection this Christmas, without this contribution we wouldn’t be able to help nearly so many people across the area."

The Tesco supermarket at Sudden, Rochdale is also accepting donations for Rochdale Foodbank:

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/131240/collection-for-rochdale-foodbank-at-sudden-tesco

Emma Revie, chief executive at The Trussell Trust, said: “No one should need a food bank at any time of year – but we know during the lead-up to Christmas our network of food banks see even more people needing help.

“Food banks will be doing all they can to provide vital emergency support so people don’t face hunger this Christmas. But to make sure there are enough donations, we need your support. Having your support in this year’s Tesco Food Collection will make a real difference – the more people who volunteer, the more food will be collected from generous shoppers, and the better prepared food banks will be to help local people.”

The Tesco Food Collection runs until Saturday, November 23 with donation points at the front of all Tesco stores in the UK and Northern Ireland. Find out more at:

• www.fareshare/tescofoodcollection