Swindon residents are being urged to give the gift of time this festive season by volunteering at the Tesco Winter Food Collection, taking place at Tesco Extra on Ocotal Way from 27–29 November.
Now in its 13th year, the nationwide campaign supports The Trussell Trust and FareShare, two leading charities that provide food and essential supplies to people facing hardship. Volunteers play a vital role in encouraging shoppers to donate long-life food items, helping both charities meet soaring demand during the winter months.
Donations for the Trussell Trust will go towards emergency food parcels for people who cannot afford the essentials, while items for FareShare will be distributed through its network of over 8,000 charities and community groups.
One in five Trussell Trust food parcels comes from Tesco and its customers, highlighting the crucial contribution of the supermarket’s annual collection.
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said:
“Every year our Winter Food Collection gets such an amazing response from customers. Volunteers in store make a huge difference by helping to encourage donations of much-needed long-life food items.”
Matthew van Duyvenbode, Co-Chief Executive Officer at The Trussell Trust, added:
“Winter is the busiest time of year for food banks. As temperatures drop and bills rise, more people turn to us for support. With the help of Tesco, its customers and our Food Collection volunteers, we can stay better stocked and ready to support local communities. Everyone should have enough to live on — and right now, we urgently need people to volunteer, donate, and spread the word.”
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare, said:
“The food we receive supports charities that help people who often face the heartbreaking choice between heating or eating. Having volunteers in store significantly boosts donations. Just three hours of your time can make a real difference — one meal at a time.”
Members of the public can volunteer in local Tesco stores, including Swindon, by signing up online at fareshare.org.uk/foodcollection.
