REAL LIVING | COMMUNITY
20%
F
‘I was a single mum with two children, two jobs and struggling financially. We lived in rented accommodation but, due to various reasons, we had to move many times before we settled. ‘By 2014, after yet another move, I was in a position where I couldn’t afford food, gas or electricity. Even though I had two
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As soon as I arrived, it was like walking into a lovely community
jobs, I’d spent so much on moving that I had nothing left. I wasn’t on benefits, but I asked Social Services for help: they gave me vouchers for the local food bank. ‘As soon as I arrived, it was like walking into a lovely community. They offered me something to eat straight away and I burst into tears – I was overwhelmed by the volunteers’ willingness to help me. I handed them my vouchers and they gave me a cup of tea and asked me if I had any pets that needed feeding or if I wanted any toiletries. Then they gave me five bags of food – it felt like Christmas. A three-day food parcel was like 98
The amount by which Tesco tops up customer food bank donations
Over 63 million The number of meals collected since 2012 a month’s worth of food for me. I’d been unable to buy anything other than basic food for years. ‘As I got back on my feet, I asked if I could volunteer as I wanted to give something back. There’s a community café, the Footprints Kitchen, attached to the food bank and I started volunteering in there too. I am now officially employed in the café as the manager and still volunteer at the food bank. ‘The food bank saved my life. I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t got help that day – they believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I see a lot of lonely people who are struggling. I always say: “You will get out of this situation – if I can, anybody can!”’
HOW YOU CAN HELP Kat says: ‘To anyone out there who can afford to put just one item into their basket for a food bank, please do. It’ll make a huge difference to someone’s life. I’d also recommend volunteering. It’s so rewarding and gives a sense of hope and wellbeing.’
TESCO FOOD COLLECTION The Tesco Food Collection for The Trussell Trust and FareShare takes place in all Tesco stores from 21-23 November. Look out for the shopping lists in store for the items of long-life food the charities most need. Last year, Tesco collected 3.5 million meals for people in need and with the generosity of customers is looking to beat that this year. Tesco will top up all customer donations to the collection by an extra 20%. For more details, visit tes.co/foodcollection.
MOST-NEEDED ITEMS
• Tinned meat • Tinned fish • Tinned soup • Tinned vegetables • Tinned fruit • Tinned puddings • Rice • Pasta sauces • Milk (UHT or powdered) • Instant coffee
INTERVIEW RHONA MERCER WORDS BRYONY BOWIE PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS BLOTT HAIR AND MAKEUP AUSTRI
ood bank usage in the UK continues to increase. No one should need a food bank but sadly some people are struggling to afford the basics. This Christmas, Tesco is helping customers to support people in their local community through Tesco Food Collection. For the seventh year running, Tesco is working with The Trussell Trust and FareShare to help those who need it most at Christmas, like Kat from Redcar in Yorkshire. Following her divorce and losing her marital home in 2010, Kat found herself relying on food parcels to feed her children. Here she tells us how a food bank gave her hope.