More than 3,000 donations

CUSTOMERS and members at Co-op stores across the Staffordshire Moorlands have donated more than 3,000 food items as part of a campaign which has gathered enough food to feed 35,000 children at risk of holiday hunger this summer.

Central England Cooperative hosted a special three-month Summer Food Bank Appeal to help youngsters in need across the area after food bank partners revealed a rise in demand from families who see the safety net of free school meals removed during the summer holidays was the biggest issue that they faced outside of Christmas.

The campaign saw a total of 141,000 items ranging from food to toiletries dropped off at special food bank collection points at more than 180 food stores across 16 counties during June, July and August and then used to create special packed lunches for projects that tackle holiday hunger during the summertime.

And Moorlands shoppers donated 2.4 per cent of that total, a whopping 3,384 items.

Holiday hunger often leaves people trying to stretch their budgets in order to eat and in some cases going without proper food during the holidays.

Figures from End Child Poverty revealed that more than 400,000 children are at risk of falling into holiday hunger during 2018.

Martyn Cheatle, Central England Co-operative chief executive, said: “We have been astonished by the generosity of our customers and members in their support of our Summer Food Bank Appeal and I would like to thank every person who found the time to donate to this vital campaign.

“To have collected over 140,000 items and created meals for 35,000 children is an amazing achievement and, most importantly, will have had a major impact for youngsters at risk of going hungry this summer.

“We are proud to work with amazing food bank partners all year round and continue to urge our customers and members, if they can, to drop off an item or two into the special collection points in our stores to make sure vital support continues for people in need all year round.”