CHARITIES providing vital food to people hit by the Covid-19 pandemic are appealing for people across Cumbria to show their support.

FareShare and the Trussell Trust are in need of volunteers to help with the UK’s biggest food collection at Tesco stores from November 19 to 21.

FareShare needs volunteers to help at donation points in store, whilst the Trussell Trust is looking for social media volunteers to share shopping lists of items needed online.

Customers are encouraged to donate long-life food and Tesco will top up customer donations by 20 per cent in cash to aid the charities’ work.

Foodbanks in the Trussell Trust’s network are expecting to give out six emergency food parcels every minute this winter.

Meanwhile, FareShare has tripled the amount of food it provides since the start of the pandemic and will supply food to 11,000 front-line charities and community groups supporting people this winter.

FareShare’s development manager in Cumbria, Tom Carysforth, said: “We know that many people have already fallen victim to the economic impact of the pandemic and thousands more are at risk of losing their jobs and livelihoods.

“We have seen a huge increase in people turning to their local grassroots community groups for support and demand for food is more than double pre-pandemic levels.

“We would be hugely grateful to anyone who is able to volunteer this year to encourage more shoppers to donate much needed ambient food to those who need it most.”

Last year, three million meals were collected as part of the Tesco Food Collection.

To volunteer visit fareshare.org.uk/foodcollection.