Antrim, Portadown, Larne and Enniskillen are amongst the stores which will take part in the month-long food drive that will call on customers to donate vital food and hygiene essentials, to support people in their local communities.

For the first time, the retailer has installed a new signposting system to encourage customers to donate items their local food bank is most in need of, such as tinned, hygiene and non-perishable goods.

The food drive this year is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as food banks across the Trussell Trust network have seen a staggering rise in demand of 89% in need compared to April last year.

Jo Warner, Asda’s Senior Director for Community said;

“We already have permanent food collection points in store and encourage our customers to donate what they can, but over the next month we’re really trying to increase the number of donations as we support our partners through the unprecedented demand for emergency food parcels which food banks have sadly seen due to the pandemic.

“Our customers and colleagues are always very generous and I want to thank them for continuing to support our Asda Fight Hunger Create Change programme, which is making a real difference in their local community, as well as on a larger scale as we continue to help people out of poverty.”

Through the retailer’s Fight Hunger Create Change partnership with anti-poverty charities the Trussell Trust and FareShare, Asda is providing ongoing support to help meet the pressures faced by the charities and the communities they support.

 

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust said,

“Since the outbreak of coronavirus, more people have needed food banks than ever before. Our network is working hard to make sure emergency help is there for people unable to afford the essentials, but we really need your support in Asda stores this month.

It’s not right that anyone needs a food bank in the UK, so we’re pushing for long-term changes that get money into the pockets of people who most need it. But while we do, food banks need your donations to make sure help is there for anyone who needs it in the coming months. Anything you’re able to give will make such a difference – thank you.”

The £20m partnership between the supermarket and the two charities has already enabled FareShare to double their capacity, meaning more food can reach those in need, while supporting the Trussell Trust to provide even more support to people referred to food banks and work towards a future without food banks through better research into the drivers of food bank use.

Earlier this year, Asda donated an additional £5 million to its partners FareShare and the Trussell Trust to help the country’s most vulnerable people through Covid-19. The donation has been split between the two charities and is helping to provide over 4 million meals to families who are experiencing poverty, as well as giving and more than 3,000 charities the ability to access free food to help tackle the impacts of Coronavirus in their communities.