Asda stores help to donate food to communities in need
ACHARITY has thanked their local Asda stores for being a ‘ great help’ in providing the community with meals. West Dunbartonshire Community FoodShare ( WDCF) has been picking up donations from Asda Clydebank and Dumbarton which are handed out as parcels every day.
In partnership with charity network FareShare, Asda colleagues across the
UK are collecting the items for their local charities and have reached the milestone of providing 1.5 million meals in Scotland.
Adele Tonner from WDCF said: “We consistently receive a range of food items from Asda including cans of juice, cereal and crisps, all of which goes straight into the food parcels and are given out to those who need it the same day. We still spend quite a lot of money on food, but what we get through FareShare Go and Asda really does help. “With the amount of people coming through our doors, we really appreciate everything we get from them.”
Through our campaign Beat the Squeeze, The Glasgow Times has highlighted the impact of the cost- of- living crisis which has left families struggling to afford food shopping.
To support people in need, Asda has been donating products such as bread, bakery items, fruit, vegetables and eggs which cannot be sold instore due to shorter sell- by or use- by dates.
Its zero waste senior manager Karen Todd said: “To reach such a big milestone in just four years is a fantastic achievement and we are extremely proud of all the hard work our colleagues have put in to get this far to help those in our local communities.
“The food we provide is even more important during a cost- of- living crisis and we will always work with FareShare and our other charity partners to donate as much as possible and do all we can to help.”
Asda is furthering its commitment to donating as much as possible, with a £ 1.4m investment to help pay for additional costs including labour and transport.
It is hoped this will lead to a further 10m meals being redistributed.
Lindsay Boswell CBE, chief executive at FareShare, said: “The costofliving crisis is driving millions of people into food poverty.
“Demand for good- to- eat surplus food that we receive from supermarkets like Asda has never been higher.
“Their committed support ensures that good food goes to people who need it, rather than going to waste.”