Wetherby Foodbank calls for donations to help struggling households

As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, the group – part of the Trussell Trust network of food banks – is asking peole to donate to this year’s Tesco Summer Food Collection, from June 30 to July 2 at its York Clifton Moor store.

Bryony Hudson, Coordinator of Wetherby and District Foodbank, is urging local people to give generously to the food collection during their supermarket shop.

“No one in Wetherby and our surrounding villages should be facing hunger and we want to see an end to local people needing emergency food at all,” said Bryony.

“While we work alongside other food banks in the Trussell Trust network to bring about long-term change to ensure everyone has enough money for the essentials, any donations of our most-needed items will be invaluable.

“Thanks to Tesco and the generosity of its customers, we hope to continue to offer vital support to families and children over the coming months, which will know will be particularly tough for many people in the local area.”

All food donations will be used to support people across the local area who are experiencing hardship and struggling to put food on the table and will be forced to use a food bank over the coming months.

The collection has been organised by Tesco who will generously top up customers’ food donations with a financial donation of 20 per cent of the value of the items donated, which will support Wetherby and District Foodbank in the provision of emergency food parcels and practical support.

Customers being asked to donate essential items of long-life food such as tinned fruit, jars of cooking sauces, long life fruit juice and feminine hygiene products.

The Trussell Trust, which supports a nationwide network of over 1,300 food bank centres including Wetherby and District Foodbank, has seen long term increases in numbers of emergency food parcels distributed to people who are facing hardship.

Food banks in its network provided over 2.1 million emergency food parcels in the last year, with over 800,000 of these given for children.

As soaring living costs continue to put pressure on families, food banks help make sure that people in crisis get the support they need over the summer period, and beyond.

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, food banks are doing all they can to help meet the extra financial pressures that families are facing.

“But for many people, the coming months will be a particularly tough period as they struggle to cover the basic costs of living such as bills, food and other essentials.

“Food banks in our network always work incredibly hard to ensure that people facing hardship get support – but we have sadly seen need accelerate over the recent months.

“Food banks are calling on the public to support them by donating food to support people unable to afford life’s essentials.

“No one should have to go without something as essential as food, but I have no doubt that the generosity of Tesco customers and colleagues this summer will once again help food banks provide the best possible help to families facing hunger today, while working towards a future where everyone can afford the essentials in life – like food.

“Thank you for your generosity - together we can make a difference.”

The Tesco food collection will take place in every Tesco store in the UK. It is the biggest collection of its kind and a vital source of food for the Trussell Trust.