Deliveroo is launching a service to collect unopened and in-date food items from customers’ homes and deliver them to food banks.
The Collecteroo service runs for five days in December in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff.
Those wishing to arrange a food collection from their home can schedule a pick-up via a microsite – collecteroo.uk – until 28 November. Collections start on 12 December in London and end on 17 December in Manchester.
The service would “enable more people to donate, such as people who are physically unable to give items in a supermarket donation point”, Deliveroo said.
Collected items will be redistributed to The Trussell Trust’s network of local food banks in each of the cities.
“Now, working closely with the Trussell Trust, we are making it easier for people to donate food by connecting local residents to local food banks,” said Deliveroo CEO and founder Will Shu.
“Together with our consumers, we are committed to helping to tackle hunger across the UK.”
Deliveroo research found 58% of Brits “feel more charitable and are more likely to donate” over the Christmas period.
At the same time, demand on food banks is expected to soar still further over winter.
Trussell Trust director of network programmes and innovation Danni Malone said: “Food banks in the Trussell Trust network are facing their toughest winter yet and expect to distribute more than 1.3 million emergency food parcels over the next six months – more than half a million of these parcels will be for children.
“This drastic increase in need means that food banks are currently distributing more food than they are receiving and this is placing significant pressure on them at a time when they’re also struggling with rising operational costs including energy bills and petrol prices.
“All of these factors mean that we need donations more than ever before and are therefore delighted to be working with Deliveroo on their collection campaign this winter.
“The ‘Collecteroo’ initiative will make a real difference to our food banks in these cities by making it easier to donate and helping to ensure that they have the stock they need to keep going this winter,” she added.
Olympic boxing champion and Strictly Come Dancing star Nicola Adams is serving as an ambassador for the Collecteroo initiative.
“I know how challenging it is for some families to put food on the table, and although they shouldn’t be needed, I’m so thankful that food banks are there to provide compassionate and practical relief,” she said. “They do an incredible job at helping people facing hardship, and now, more than ever, it is vital that people who can donate, offer their support, where possible. That’s why I’m using my platform and my voice this Christmas to raise awareness around this important initiative.”
Collecteroo is encouraging people to donate the following items where possible: Tinned fruit, tinned meat and fish, UHT milk, tinned tomatoes and pasta sauce, sponge or rice puddings and long-life juice.
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