Food banks feeding families this Christmas

Food poverty remains a growing problem across the country, and many families may struggle to put dinner on the table this Christmas. In an effort to tackle this issue, we're encouraging shoppers to ‘give a little something’ this festive season.

Malcolm Shepherd is Community Care Ministries Secretary at the Salvation Army in Gainsborough and told us that this Christmas, food donations are more important than ever. He says: “It’s a long and tiring process to collect everything we need, but the hope you bring to people’s lives makes it all worth it.

“Two years ago, we got a call asking if we could help a mother with a child. She’d had lost her husband just three months earlier. We were asked if we could help provide them with some food because they were struggling.

“We managed to find some food and get it to them just before Christmas Day. Three days later, she came back in floods of tears saying how grateful she was for what we had done.”

Along with 39 other local food banks and community larders, Lincolnshire Co-op will be supporting Malcolm and the team at The Salvation Army Gainsborough Food Bank this winter. Through our Food Bank Advent Calendar campaign, we're encouraging shoppers to collect one essential item each day to donate to those who need extra support this Christmas.

We’re proud to work alongside these vital causes that make a massive difference to the lives of so many. With a helping hand from the community, local food banks aim to make sure that everyone has access to the resources they need to enjoy a comfortable and safe Christmas this year.