Tesco to support North Devon families during Easter school holidays with donation bags

Tesco is offering North Devon shoppers the chance to support local families facing financial difficulties this Easter by purchasing pre-packed donation bags filled with long-life food items. 

These donation bags will be available in large Tesco stores across the region from April 7 to 20, making it easier for customers to help those in need during the school break.

The initiative aims to provide essential support to families who struggle to make ends meet when free school meal provision is unavailable during the holidays. 

Tesco’s donation bags will be distributed to food charities FareShare and Trussell, helping thousands of children and their families.

“We know that families find it difficult to make ends meet and give their kids nutritious meals,” said Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco. 

“Our pre-packed donation bags will give a much-needed top-up to food charities FareShare and Trussell and make a difference to the lives of thousands of children and their families.”

The Easter Holiday Helps initiative is part of Tesco's ongoing support for schoolchildren through its Stronger Starts campaign, which also includes the Fruit and Veg for Schools programme. 

This programme helps schools with the highest rates of free school meals by offering grants to purchase fruit and vegetables from Tesco stores, ensuring healthier snack and lunch options for children.

Tesco partners with the charity Trussell, which supports families in North Devon year-round. Last year, nearly two-thirds of the charity's support went to families with children, with a 94 per cent increase in the demand for emergency food parcels over the past five years.

“Tesco’s support this Easter will make a real difference to families across the UK,” said Emma Revie, CEO at Trussell. 

“Our network of food banks distributed more than 1.1 million food parcels for children last year, almost double the amount provided just five years ago. No-one should need to turn to a charity for something as essential as food, and as we work towards achieving the long-term change needed, Tesco’s support this Easter will make a real difference.”

FareShare, the UK’s largest food redistribution charity, is also a key partner.

The charity supplies food to over 8,000 local organisations, many of which support families with children.

During the holidays, demand for food increases, and Tesco’s donation scheme will help ensure that more good food reaches those who need it most.

“Any donations from Tesco customers this Easter will enable us to continue getting good food to charities supporting and bringing people together around food, helping to strengthen communities and change lives,” said Kris Gibbon-Walsh, Chief Executive at FareShare.

The most-needed items for donation include UHT and powdered milk, tinned meat and fish, long-life fruit juice, pasta sauces, tinned vegetables, pasta, rice, cereal, tea and coffee, and sponge or rice puddings.

Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme, launched in 2023, is a £8million initiative in partnership with Groundwork UK. 

The programme supports schools, children’s groups, and community projects by providing funds for nutritious food and healthy activities, helping to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of young people.