Midcounties Co-op says its colleagues, members and customers raised £25,000 across its food stores as part of the Christmas Food bank Appeal.
Funds are being distributed to local food bank partners to help provide essential support at a time of increasing demand on community food banks, says the retailer.
A significant amount of the funds came from a new initiative offering reusable shopping bags for 70p, the co-op added.
Members and customers shopping were encouraged to drop essential items into each store’s food bank collection boxes and also made monetary donations via till points.
Midcounties’s Food Bank Fund was first launched at the start of the pandemic and has since raised over £125,000.
Tarra Simmons, head of community and democratic engagement at Midcounties, said: “It’s a testament to our members, customers and colleagues to yet again support us in raising such a significant amount for our food bank partners – over £5,000 more than last year.
“Support of this scale ultimately helps us, as a society, continue to do good together to put the community at the heart of what we do and support those that need it most. We hope it goes a small way in supporting the vital services that our food bank partners provide, especially as they face increased pressure and demand at this time of year.”
Cher Smith, from at Swindon Food Collective, said: “The donation is much appreciated and will go a long way to help fill more of our food parcels for the local community.”
Colleagues are also encouraged to volunteer throughout the year at their local food bank offering further support.
More information about the fund and the food banks it supports at midcounties.coop/our-campaigns/supporting-food-banks
