Food collection will be a lifeline

A WINTER food collection will boost stocks of essential items in the region's food banks. Tesco stores locally will be gathering donations this weekend for Trussell and FareShare. And Dumfries and Galloway shoppers are being encouraged to hand in long life products. The most needed list includes tinned fish, meat and pies, long-life juice, UHT milk, sponge and rice puddings, tinned fruit and vegetables, tea and instant coffee, cereals, cooking sauces, beans and pulses, pasta, noodles and rice, nuts and biscuits, preserves and condiments, and cooking oil. They also need toilet roll and toiletries. Of those, the most-needed items according to FareShare and Trussell are cereal, oats and instant porridge; tinned and dried soup; and cans of beans. Ashwin Prasad, Tesco UK CEO, said: “With more families than ever expected to need help with essentials this winter, along with our partners, we are encouraging customers to donate whatever they can to our Winter Food Collection. "If we all pull together, we can make a big difference to lives across the UK this winter." Matthew Van Duyvenbode, co-chief executive at Trussell, said: “With a food parcel being given out every ten seconds this winter, we know far too many people will be facing hunger and hardship during the festive season. “We know times are tough, but a donation can really make a difference." FareShare boss Kris Gibbon-Walsh, added: “The Tesco Winter Food Collection enables us to collect long-life, staple ingredients that complement he fresh surplus food we redistribute. If shoppers can donate just one item at their local store, they’ll be helping to provide a meal for someone facing hardship this winter.”