The Asda Fight Hunger Create Change programme means more of our stores in Northern Ireland are donating surplus food that might otherwise have gone to waste to local groups and charities – like the Superstars Club in Cookstown.
The spare food, which is all good quality and within date, is distributed via the FareShare Go scheme. The Superstars Club uses it to help teach people with learning disabilities how to cook. They make meals for themselves, and customers at their cafe, using the donations from Asda.
Our Cookstown store's community champion Janice Gibson works closely with the group and called in to see how they're putting the donations to good use.
The club's chairperson May McAvoy said: "Janice regularly volunteers with us, has allowed us to hold collection days in the store and is very helpful and supportive of our charity.
“She approached us to see if we were interested in receiving these donations and we've been receiving them for a few months now, which we're very grateful for. All donations come in handy.
"We receive food every week – it can be anything from bread to vegetables ... we've even had a lovely cake!
"We then use these ingredients to help people make their own meals.
"The donations also allow the members who cook in our social enterprise café to prepare delicious hot meals and a range of baked goods for customers.
"At Superstars, we celebrate the wonderful abilities of our members and highlight how they are not defined by their disabilities – and it’s amazing to see that Asda recognises the importance of supporting groups such as ours."
Janice was joined by colleagues from our Cookstown store to sort through the latest delivery.
She said: "It's always great fun to meet this lovely group, and I've seen for myself how these donations make a real difference to the lives of local people with learning difficulties."
Our Asda Fight Hunger Create Change campaign is donating £20 million to The Trussell Trust and FareShare over three years to help people out of food poverty. Find out more here.
