Support our community this winter by donating to Salisbury Foodbank at your local Tesco store

Tuesday, 26 November 2024 06:00

As food banks continue to support record levels of people facing hunger and hardship this winter, Salisbury Foodbank is urging shoppers to donate to this year’s Tesco Winter Food Collection.

From Thursday 28th November to Saturday 30th November, customers at Salisbury, Amesbury and Tidworth Tesco branches will be encouraged to pick up an extra item or two as part of their weekly shop to drop in special donation trollies on the way out of store.

Food banks are a last resort for people who’ve been left isolated, facing hunger, and without enough money to live on. But with so many people unable to afford the essentials right now, food bank staff and volunteers continue to work harder than ever to ensure people get the support they need.

Last year, more than 3.1 million emergency food parcels were distributed by food banks in Trussell’s community. That’s a 94% increase over the past five years.

Anyone who donates at the Tesco Winter Collection, will be helping ensure that Salisbury Foodbank can continue to provide warm, compassionate, practical support and advice this winter.

Customers being asked to donate essential items of long-life food such as tinned fruit, long life fruit juice, tinned meat, tinned fish.

Maria Stevenson, manager of Salisbury Foodbank, is urging local people in south Wiltshire to give generously to the Winter Food Collection during their supermarket shop.

Maria Stevenson, said: “Thanks to the generosity of our community, we hope to continue to offer vital support to families and children over the coming months, winter is by far our busiest time of the year, know it will be particularly tough for many people in the local area. They weather is already turning cold and many people are worried about switching the heating on.”

Salisbury Foodbank, says that last year 972 households accessed a food bank for the first time. In total they supplied over 72,000 meals to 8,000 local people, 38% of which were children.

The food bank says that at the heart of its work is creating a safe space to offer a cup of tea and a chat, alongside providing practical support. This is key to making foodbank centres a welcoming space for people experiencing hardship and crisis.