Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Volunteer to help feed people at Christmas
Kind-hearted people in Monklands are being urged to sign up and join an army of volunteers needed to collect food for charities feeding people in their local community this Christmas.
The Trussell Trust, which provides emergency food parcels to people in crisis, and Fareshare, who offer food to thousands of frontline charities and community groups, are seeking volunteers to help during this year’s Tesco Food Collection.
The collection will take place in every Tesco store in Airdrie and Coatbridge from November 18-20, and with many people facing a particularly difficult winter, the need to collect food for the charities is greater than ever.
Tesco will be topping up the donations made during the collection with a 20 per cent cash donation to help the charities in their work.
The presence of volunteers at the collection has a big impact on the amount of food donated and Jim Burns, director of operations at Move On, operated in partnership with Fareshare, encouraged people to get involved, warning charities would be under extra pressure this winter.
Jim said: “With many people still feeling the effects of the pandemic, and with the huge increase in heating bills and living costs coming in the lead up to the cold winter months, we know that there will be many people turning to their local grassroots organisations for support with food this Christmas.
“We would be hugely grateful to anyone who is able to volunteer at the Tesco Food Collection this year to encourage more shoppers to donate much-needed food to Fareshare, so we can continue to support those who need it most.”
Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, added: “Christmas can be an extremely difficult time for many people but especially for families facing crisis.
“We know that, in Lanarkshire, too many people will be forced to use a foodbank over the festive period because they are unable to afford the essentials.
“Supporting the Tesco Food Collection this November by volunteering could make all the difference to your local foodbank during this busy period.
“You could donate a couple of hours of time and volunteer during the collection or, alternatively, you could donate food to your local Tesco’s donation point. Please do get in touch to hear about volunteering opportunities.”
To volunteer for the collection, sign up online at https://fareshare.org.uk/ foodcollection/ or https://www.trusselltrust. org/get-involved/tesco-food-collection/