Food bank links up with local supermarket

Food bank links up with local supermarket

30 May 2018

THE Asda store in Downpatrick has teamed up with the Fountain Foodbank to collect food for local people facing hunger.

Staff at the Ballydugan retail park outlet are working alongside the cross-community charity to collect food donations at the store, as part of a nationwide drive by the supermarket chain.

Shoppers will be able to donate much-needed supplies which will go to the foodbank when they are doing their shopping at dedicated in-store collection points.

The foodbank distributes food to people across Downpatrick and the surrounding area, including Killyleagh, Ardglass, Strangford, Killough and Clough.

Last year, the charity provided over 734 emergency food parcels to local people in crisis.

With Asda’s help, the foodbank, which is staffed buy a team of dedicated volunteers, hopes to be able to feed even more people this year.

The initiative is part of Asda’s new three-year ‘fight hunger create change’ programme, working in partnership with foodbank charity The Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity FareShare, to invest at least £20m to try and lift one million people in the UK out of food poverty.

The partnership is part of the supermarket chain’s commitment to help tackle hunger across the country and will be funded by sales of Asda’s Bags for Life.

In addition, the investment will also enable FareShare and The Trussell Trust to develop their infrastructure so they can transport and store more fresh food.

In Downpatrick, the initiative is being spearheaded by Asda’s in-store community colleagues who will work closely with local food banks to ensure they receive donations of the items that make the most difference.

The store’s community colleague, Andrea McQuoid, said customers and staff were always very generous.

“We are really pleased to be getting behind the wider Asda fight hunger create change campaign which will make a difference on a very local level as well as on bigger scale across Northern Ireland,” she said.

“Over the next few weeks, we’ll have food collection points in-store, with donations going to local food banks and the donations we’ve received so far are already making a difference with those who need them.”

In addition to Asda, Supervalu already provides a dedicated collection point at its Ballymote store in Downpatrick with another one at Milligan’s shop in Ardglass. Local churches, individuals, schools and other organisations also make valuable contributions to the foodbank located Downpatrick Presbyterian Church. 

The volunteers who provide the service are thrilled with Asda’s support for the vital work the charity carries out in the town and surrounding area.

People can be referred to the foodbank for a variety of reasons, including cuts and delays in benefits, family illness or bereavement, pressure on home budgets and sudden emergencies.

Donations can also be left at the Fountain Foodbank on Tuesday or Friday mornings. The contact numbers are 07444 015883 or email fountainfoodbank@gmail.com.