BASINGSTOKE shoppers are encouraged to donate to Tesco's annual food collection to help provide emergency food parcels to people in crisis.

As charities warn of increasing need for food, the 10th annual collection will be taking place in every Tesco store this weekend from December 1 to December 3. 

People are encouraged to donate long-life food items that will be used to support food banks in the Trussell Trust's network and help FareShare as they expect to provide food to 1.2m people in the UK this winter.

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Ken Murphy, Tesco CEO, said that during Tesco's decade-long partnership with charities customers have helped donate more than 100 million means' worth of food.

He added: "This is going to be a difficult winter for food banks and charities and every can, packet or jar our customers donate to this weekend’s Tesco Food Collection will make a difference."

Tesco will then top up all those donations with 20 per cent in cash. 

Lindsay Boswell CBE, chief executive at FareShare, said: "This event is crucial in helping to collect long-life food and we are immensely grateful to Tesco for their continued support which will help us to continue getting food where it is most needed.”

Items most needed by food banks and charities will be highlighted in store, and shoppers at large stores will also be able to pick up pre-filled donation bags.

During the collection customers can round up their bill at the till to make a small donation to the charities or donate Clubcard vouchers online, with Tesco matching their value.

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Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust explained that Tesco and its customers are the biggest single source of food donations for the Trussell Trust’s network of food banks.

She said: “We are extremely grateful to Tesco for the invaluable support that they have provided to food banks across the UK over the last decade. 

“Now, at a time when food banks in Basingstoke are facing a tsunami of need created by the soaring cost of living, we encourage anyone who is in a position to make a donation to visit a Tesco store in Basingstoke and take part in the Winter Collection. You’ll be helping to keep food banks open this winter.”