Asda to donate half a million meals over Easter holidays, as well as kids eat free in its cafes to help tackle holiday hunger
Asda has announced that in a bid to continue to tackle holiday hunger, it will be enabling over half a million meals to be donated to families throughout the Easter holidays.
Through its Fight Hunger partnership with food redistribution charity FareShare, Asda’s donation is enabling vulnerable families to access free meals over the holiday period, which might otherwise have gone to waste.
In addition to this support, Asda will also be donating over 45 thousand meals throughout the school holidays from its cafes, as children aged 16 and under can access a nutritionally balanced hot or cold meal when an adult spends £1, with the offer also available to takeaway.
The news follows the recent announcement that Asda’s support has enabled FareShare to distribute over 100 million meals to vulnerable people – thanks to Asda’s transformational £25 million Fight Hunger partnership, which brings together charities FareShare and the Trussell Trust and aims to create long-term positive change to poverty in the UK.
Jo Warner, Asda’s Senior Director or Community said:
**“**The past year has been so challenging for many families in our local communities, which is why we are so proud of our Fight Hunger partnership with FareShare, which will enable over half a million meals to be donated to those in need over the school holidays, which might otherwise have gone to waste.
We know that over the school holidays, our charity partners and local food banks and community groups experience an increased demand for food parcels, which is why we are pleased to be able to provide meals to those families who might otherwise have relied on free school meals”.
Lindsay Boswell, FareShare Chief Executive, said:
**“**FareShare’s network of staff and volunteers across the UK will be continuing to work tirelessly, as it has done all year, to get good surplus food to the children and families who need it this Easter. Now more than ever it is vitally important to ensure vulnerable children can access healthy, nutritious food.
“At a time when the need for our service has never been higher, this support from Asda is crucial, enabling us to work with thousands of local, grassroots projects across the UK to deliver millions of meals to disadvantaged communities throughout April and beyond.”
Through the retailer’s Fight Hunger Create Change programme, Asda has invested in FareShare’s infrastructure over the past 3 years, funding new warehouses and refits which has enabled FareShare to redistribute an additional 71 million meals since 2018 and support an additional 4000 charities to be able to receive food donations.