Oxfordshire Tesco customers urged to support food collection

This is part of the 12th annual Tesco Winter Food Collection, with all donations going to the charities Trussell and FareShare, both of which are expecting high demand for their services this winter.

The collection is running in Tesco Express stores from November 25-30 and in large stores from November 28-30.

The most-needed items according to FareShare and Trussell are UHT and powdered milk, tinned meat and fish, and sponge or rice pudding.

Claire De Silva, head of community at Tesco (Image: Tesco) Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: "Our partners tell us they've seen even more families needing their help and they expect demand to increase this winter, so we're encouraging Oxfordshire customers to donate whatever they can to our Winter Food Collection.

"We've boosted our ongoing support to FareShare and Trussell with a donation of £500,000 each this year to help them meet additional demand through the summer and winter holiday periods when family finances are facing the most strain."

Research by Trussell shows almost a quarter of children under four are now facing hunger and hardship, while a record 9.3 million people in the UK are in the same situation.

FareShare's annual impact report shows a similar story, with an 86 per cent increase in people accessing the services of the 8,000 charity partners and community groups they support.

More than two in three of their partner charities are seeing more people accessing their support for the first time.

In response, Tesco is making its pre-packed customer donation bags available at even more stores in an effort to top the two million meals donated at last year's collection.

The bags, which typically cost between £2 and £3, are pre-filled with healthy and nutritious long-life items and can be picked up by Oxfordshire customers in store and paid for at the checkout.

The donated food is passed to FareShare and Trussell, who will distribute it to charities and food banks to help families in need.

Emma Revie, Trussell chief executive, said: "Food banks are a last resort for people who’ve been left facing hunger and hardship.

"They’re a lifeline, offering a warm welcome and space to be heard.

"But with so many people unable to afford the essentials right now, food banks are having to purchase record amounts of emergency food."

Kris Gibbon-Walsh, FareShare chief executive, added: "The Tesco Winter Food Collection enables us to collect long-life, staple ingredients that complement the fresh surplus food we redistribute.

"If you’re able to donate just one item at your local store, you’ll be helping to provide a meal for someone in hardship this winter."