Supermarket customers in Exeter are being urged to help feed people in crisis this Christmas as a big retailer prepares to hold the 'biggest-ever' food collection in the UK.
Shoppers at Tesco branches across the city will be able to donate food later this month as part of a nationwide bid with Exeter Foodbank to collect 10 million meals for those in need by the end of the year.
Food banks have reported rapid rises in usage this year as individuals, couples and families are pushed to financial breaking point.
The number of city clients escalated by more than 40 per cent year-on-year to 3,424 mouths over 12 months until October, including almost 200 additional children.
Joy Dunne, Exeter Foodbank manager, said: "Winter is the hardest time of year for people living in poverty, and this Christmas is looking especially tough as fuel prices continue to rise.
"We're delighted that Tesco are working with us to help stop local people going hungry this Christmas and we hope that many people will donate a tin or two. In the run up to Christmas we want to do our bit to feed those in need and volunteers from Exeter Foodbank are really looking forward to taking part in the collection."
The service relies on donations from local people – via local churches, supermarket collection points, schools and businesses – for nearly every single item handed out.
Anthony Heath, a former client at Exeter Foodbank, said: "I visited the food bank because it was really difficult to live. I had to go onto the benefit system after losing my job when I was paying a mortgage.
"The Exeter Foodbank was fantastic to me, always there to help, and you get some great quality food."
Customers at Tesco stores will be given a specially-selected shopping list when they enter the store, and will be asked to donate a chosen item of food at the end of their shop.
The items of food - including long-life milk, cereal, tinned foods and tea and coffee - will then be distributed to the city food bank, before being given to people in crisis.
A spokesman for Tesco Exeter said: "Our customers were incredibly generous when we held our last food collection in the summer, so we're hoping to collect an even bigger total this time around."
People will also be able to be make an online cash contribution to the appeal, and Tesco has pledged to top-up up total donations by a further 30%.
The supermarket chain will be joined by food banks charity, the Trussell Trust, and food redistribution charity Fareshare for the collection from Friday November 29 to Sunday December 1.
