Tesco and British Red Cross team up for urgent food deliveries in Rochdale

Tesco and the Red Cross have been working together since 2007

More than 250 items of food and toiletries from Tesco have been delivered to the most vulnerable by British Red Cross teams since the start of the Coronavirus outbreak.

In Rochdale these parcels, which included cereal, bread, pasta tea and toiletries, were arranged by staff at Tesco and delivered to groups of vulnerable adults and children in the area who are isolating due to Covid-19 via British Red Cross.

Tesco and the Red Cross have been working together since 2007, but in March 2020 as the Coronavirus outbreak took hold in the UK, Tesco agreed to donate £2million to help the Red Cross continue its vital work supporting some of the most vulnerable people affected, in communities around the UK.

A large part of the British Red Cross partnership is to help facilitate organisations such as local food banks and NHS trusts to collect the groceries they need to create food parcels for those unable to access supplies during these difficult times.

Tommy Newell, duty manager at Tesco in Rochdale, said: “These are challenging times for everyone, but especially for the most vulnerable in our communities. It is a privilege to be working with the British Red Cross to help provide essentials to those in need and alleviate some of the worry about getting vital food items.”

Emmanuelle Pennarin, Emergency Response Operations Manager for Greater Manchester, British Red Cross, said: “This unprecedented global health emergency requires us all to pull together. As part of the British Red Cross’ response to coronavirus, we’re delving deep into the heart of communities across the UK to help strengthen support for the most vulnerable people.

“A large part of our work involves delivering essential food parcels and medicines to those unable to get out. Thanks to Tesco’s incredible support, our Emergency Response teams across the UK can access the food they need swiftly to ensure nobody faces this crisis alone.”