Charity hoping for popular vote

Perth Foodbank has launched a new appeal for local supermarket shoppers to get behind it.

The charity has been selected as one of the local community projects nominated for the Tesco Bags of Help initiative until February 28.

This is a local community grant scheme where the money raised from the 5p bag levy in Tesco stores is used to fund local community projects.

Customers will receive a blue token at the till that they can then use to vote for the project they would like to support.

The money available is then divided up across the region with awards given to the top three projects to receive the most tokens.

Foodbank project coordinator Eleanor Kelleher said the public vote could be worth thousands of pounds to the charity.

“We had a very successful three-day collection in the Tesco stores in Perth and Blairgowrie at the beginning of December and are very appreciative of the year round support we get from our local Tesco stores,” she said.

“We are now well-stocked with items and will focus on fundraising in the New Year to help us reduce the shortfall needed for our operating costs.”

Last year the foodbank experienced an increase in the number of clients using it, with approximately 50 vouchers being presented each week at their base in Cutlog Vennel, feeding about 85 people each week.