Asda Middleton launches food drive for local foodbank

A supermarket in Middleton has teamed up with a local foodbank to collect food to help the area’s most vulnerable through Covid-19.

Colleagues at Asda Middleton have helped launch the drive to collect food donations at the store, as part of a nationwide drive by the supermarket chain.

Shoppers will be able to donate much-needed supplies which will go to Leeds South & East Foodbank, when they are doing their shopping at dedicated in-store collection points. The food drive, which takes place in stores across the country in July, is aimed to help meet the increased demand food banks have faced during the pandemic.

This year for the first time, the retailer has introduced signposts across the shelves to help highlight the most in demand items needed by the local foodbank.

The initiative is part of Asda’s Fight Hunger Create Change programme, working in partnership with foodbank charity The Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity FareShare, to invest at least £20 million to try to lift one million people in the UK out of food poverty.

Locally, the initiative is being led by Asda’s in-store community colleagues, who have been working closely with their local food banks to ensure they receive donations of the items that make the most difference.

Rachel Cunningham, Community Champion at Asda Middleton, said:

“We’re always overwhelmed by the sheer volume of donations our generous customers and colleagues make, not just through initiatives like this food drive, but throughout the year as they continue to donate to our permanent collection points in store.

“These donations will make a huge difference to the local community, as well as on a larger scale as we continue to help people out of poverty.”

Earlier this year, Asda donated an additional £5 million to its partners FareShare and the Trussell Trust to help the country’s most vulnerable people through Covid-19. The donation has been split between the two charities and is helping to provide over 4 million meals to families who are experiencing poverty, as well as giving and more than 3,000 charities the ability to access free food to help tackle the impacts of Coronavirus in their communities.

 

This post is based on a press release issued by Asda