Generous North Antrim shoppers thanked for donating 5,000 meals

(L-R) Ronny McFall (Community Champion, Tesco Superstore Ballymena) and Will McDowell (Coordinator, Ballymena Foodbank)

Generous Tesco shoppers in North Antrim have been thanked after helping to donate more than 1.5million meals-worth of food to help charities feed people during Christmas and the winter months.

During the twice-yearly Tesco Food Collection, which ran in all Tesco stores in the UK from November 18th to 20th customers were asked to donate long-life food to support FareShare and the Trussell Trust.

Stores across the UK reported that customers had given the highest volume of food donations to support local charities since the start of the pandemic, providing 1.57m meals during the campaign, with shoppers in North Antrim donating 5,000 meals.

The donations will help foodbanks in the Trussell Trust’s network provide emergency parcels and help FareShare supply thousands of frontline charities.

Tesco has once again topped up all customer donations with a 20% cash donation to the two charities, to support them in their work feeding people in communities across the UK.

Ronny McFall, Community Champion for Tesco Superstore Ballymena, said:

“'This last 18 months have been testing times. The full impact of Covid 19 on our customers finances are starting to be felt, and the collection point in Tesco Superstore Ballymena is vital. We have a permanent collection point all year round in the foyer next to the store exit, and we would encourage our shoppers to keep donating to help families in need in our local community.”

(R-L) Will McDowell (Coordinator, Ballymena Foodbank) and Jonny Currie, (Trussell Trust Northern Ireland)

Ronny also shared how one very generous customer used their £100 Spend Local Card in Tesco Ballymena to fill one-and-a-half trollies of groceries for donation.

Jonny Currie, The Trussell Trust Northern Ireland commented:

“People who have made a donation to this collection have made a huge difference to someone this Christmas.

“The £20 cut to Universal Credit and rising fuel costs have been a devastating blow for families up and down the country with people facing impossible decisions like whether to heat their home or put food on the table.

“We want to see an end to people needing emergency food and are determined to campaign to bring about long term change to end hunger not just at the Christmas season but at any time of year.”

Will McDowell (Coordinator, Ballymena Foodbank)

Will McDowell, Coordinator at Ballymena Foodbank was also keen to emphasise the difference that each donation can make.

“This will be a difficult winter for many people,” said Will. “Your support has made sure that people in crisis have received the support they needed over the Christmas period. Every single tin, packet or jar has made a huge difference.”

Please keep donating at the collection point inside Tesco Ballymena to support those families in need in our local communities.