Customers at Asda Gosforth donate 17 trolley loads of food to local food bank

We'd like to say a big festive thank you to the generous customers at our Gosforth store who donated 17 trolley loads of food and essentials for their local food bank to meet the increase in demand over Christmas.

Thank you to the generous customers at Asda Gosforth for donating to their local foodbank

The trolleys full of essential items were collected by the Newcastle West End Foodbank to help families in need.

Alongside customers, the local Beaver group and carol singers came to the store to donate toiletries, baby food and ambient goods, as well as putting together hampers of items to help the most vulnerable people in the local community.

Over 140 totes of food were collected by the Newcastle West End Foodbank from the store, which filled three big vans!

Michelle Castledine, Asda Gosforth’s community champion, said: “I’m always overwhelmed by the sheer volume of donations our generous customers make, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year as they continue to donate to our permanent collection points in store.

"I want to thank our customers and colleagues for continuing to support our Fight Hunger, Create Change programme,which will make a difference in their local community, as well as on a larger scale as we continue to help people out of poverty.”

Samantha Stapley, director of operations at the Trussell Trust, said:“For too many people, this Christmas will not be a time of celebration. Every year our network of food banks sees a spike in need during December, and what we’re hearing from the frontline suggests this year food banks will see just as many, if not more, people referred for help.

“Food banks will be working hard to provide not only essential food, but also little extras that offer hope at a time when people need it most. This can only be done with the support of people and businesses in local communities, so we’re very grateful for support of food banks like this. It will make a huge difference – thank you.”

The year-round collection trolleys are part of Asda’s Fight Hunger Create Change programme, a three-year, £20m partnership between the supermarket, anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity FareShare.