3,900 meals donated through food bank advent calendar scheme

In the build up to Christmas, locals have embodied the festive spirit and donated over 4,700 individual items to local food banks and community larders.

These donations weigh more than 1,640kg, which equates to over 3,900 meals, and will support 44 local food banks and community larders, providing an essential lifeline to many vulnerable families.

Donations have been made through our food bank advent calendar, which suggests an essential item to give on each day leading up to Christmas.

Items listed ranged from tinned meat and custard to hygiene products such as deodorant and toilet roll, with collection points located in store.

On day two of the calendar, which coincided with members dividend bonus, participants were also encouraged to donate their dividend at the till of their local food store.

Our colleagues have been instrumental in encouraging their communities to donate, promoting the calendar instore.

In Skegness, colleagues from Roman Bank Food Store worked with the Community team to raise awareness and gather vital funds for Skegness Food Bank, offering a game of ‘pick the bauble’.

The reception they received from the local community was phenomenal, with many people even choosing to donate their prize.

Clive Pearson, volunteer at Skegness Food Bank, worked alongside our colleagues to rally up support. He said: “The food we provide to people is absolutely essential, often it’s what gets them through the week. We’re only seeing food bank usage increase, so any donations are needed now more than ever."

Members can continue to donate their dividend towards the scheme up until the end of December.

Sam Turner, Community Manager at Lincolnshire Co-op, said: “We know a lot of people are struggling financially right now, which makes these donations even more valuable, and the level of support we’ve received even more special.

“Thank you to every single person who has contributed – whether you donated on each day, dropped in a single item, or simply told a friend about the scheme, you’ve no doubt made an impact.”