THE generosity of shoppers in Harlow is being celebrated after they donated the equivalent of more than 14,850 meals to support food banks and people facing hardship in the local area.

Customers at Church Langley, Edinburgh Way and Tesco Metro donated 6,243 kg of food as part of the Tesco Winter Collection which took place at stores across the country between 1-3^rd December. In addition, a further £1,115 was passed on to collection boxes in store. Tesco has also provided an additional 20 percent cash top up on all donations.

The items donated are needed now more than ever as, for the first time, food banks across the UK are giving out more food than is being donated. As the soaring cost of living is leading to more people struggling to afford the essentials, food banks are experiencing a sharp increase in the level of need in their communities. 

The Trussell Trust, which supports a network of more than 1,300 food bank centres across the UK, anticipate that 7,000 emergency food parcels will be distributed each day over the winter period. Between April and September this year, food banks in the Trussell Trust network distributed 1.3 million parcels, with Harlow providing 1,965.

Speaking about the difference that the Tesco Winter Collection makes, Andy Thornton, CEO of the Michael Roberts Charitable Trust who run Harlow Foodbank said: “We were just blown away by the response. This was three times more than we were given last year. Our neighbours across the town have definitely twigged how precarious life has got for people like them. No one is unaffected by the cost-of-living crisis, but so many people are choosing help out those most affected, it’s amazing!”

The Tesco Winter Collection is now in its tenth year and has generated more than 100 million meals to support the Trussell Trust and FareShare over the last decade. This year it was easier than ever for people to support their local food bank, in addition to the food donations, customers were also able to make a financial donation by rounding up their shop at self-checkout tills or by donating Clubcard points which Tesco matched. 

Emma Revie, Chief Executive at the Trussell Trust, said: “Food banks across the UK are facing their hardest winter yet as they struggle to cope with a tsunami of need caused by the cost of living emergency.

“On a daily basis, food banks in our network are hearing from families up and down the country who are having to make impossible decisions between putting food on the table or being turning on the heating – and too many people are being left with no option but to use a food bank because their money simply won’t stretch.

“Thanks to the incredible generosity of Tesco customers, food banks across the Trussell Trust network can continue to provide emergency food and support to people facing hardship. Each and every donation made will enable Harlow Foodbank to provide immediate help to people in the local community, while the Trussell Trust works in the long term to build a future without the need for food banks.”

You can find out more about Harlow Foodbank visit on a regular basis by becoming a friend on Facebook: @FoodbankHarlow.