Thousands of meals have been donated for people facing hardship after shoppers in Bournemouth supported the Tesco Winter Food Collection ahead of Christmas.
A total of 16,651 meals’ worth of food was donated across Dorset between the 24th and 29th of November, with Bournemouth stores contributing as part of the county wide effort supported by hundreds of volunteers in large and Express branches.
The donations were passed to FareShare and Trussell, which say demand for emergency food support is increasing, with food banks expected to provide an emergency food parcel every ten seconds this winter to meet need.
Both charities say the Christmas period can be particularly difficult for some Bournemouth families, with rising household costs placing extra pressure on budgets at a time when spending often increases.
Tesco UK chief executive Ashwin Prasad thanked customers for their support, saying their generosity helps partners FareShare and Trussell continue vital work in local communities, and that every donated item makes a meaningful difference.
FareShare said more than a third of its partner charities now mainly support families with children or services for young people, while Trussell said donations help food banks continue supporting people facing hunger and hardship.
Tesco shoppers in Bournemouth can continue donating food at permanent collection points in stores or add a donation after an online shop until the end of February.
Share us with your friends on social media, and have a listen to Bournemouth One online and on DAB for all your local news, traffic, jobs, weather, coastal info and more.
Register below for free regular updates via email.