Thousands of meals donated for families in need
Nearly 4,000 meals will go to needy families after a food collection at Tesco in Wath-upon-Dearne.
John Healey MP added his contribution and joined volunteers manning the collection point on Friday. Now he has called on Tesco’s chief executive to set up a permanent food donation point.
The drive was part of the supermarket chain’s second National Food Collection, in conjunction with Trussell Trust and Fare Share, and shoppers around the country donated 3.5 million meals – or 26,000 trolleys of food.
In the Wentworth & Dearne constituency 3,932 meals were collected, including 3,835 from the Wath store. This includes a 30 per cent ‘top up’ from Tesco.
Mr Healey said: “The number of people relying on food banks has tripled over the last 12 months and 500,000 people in Britain are thought to now depend on emergency food aid.
“The people of Wath have been as generous as ever and their donations will go straight to families in need in the local area.
“Given the success of this weekend collection, I’d like to see a permanent drop-off point in store and I have written to Tesco’s chief executive to ask him to consider this.”
Alison Reed, store manager, said: “This weekend has been a great success for Tesco and Trussell Trust who have worked together to arrange a food collection for local people in need.
“Our customers at Wath-upon-Dearne have donated very generously for such a worthwhile cause and I’d like to thank everyone who has donated and supported the food bank event.”