SPAR commits to one million meals for FareShare with £250K donation
SPAR has partnered with FareShare, the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and tackling food waste, to provide the equivalent of one million meals through local charities in cities, towns and villages across the UK as part of the One Million Meals project.
The campaign has now launched in over 300 SPAR NI stores and will run until 1st November 2023.
FareShare is the UK’s longest running food redistribution charity that believes no good food should go to waste, especially when people are going hungry. According to FareShare, seven million people in the UK are struggling to afford to eat, representing 1 in 10 of the UK population.
In Northern Ireland, FareShare partners with 160 foodbanks and community charities, and SPAR’s project complements the donations that are continuing from 181 SPAR and EUROSPAR stores. Since the beginning of the year, tens of thousands of products have been donated from stores by staff and shoppers to community foodbanks here in Northern Ireland.
‘SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION’
Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing at Henderson Group which owns SPAR in Northern Ireland said: “SPAR’s partnership with FareShare will see £250,000 donated to the organisation, which means that for every £1 given FareShare can redistribute enough food for the equivalent of four meals to people in need across the UK.”
The Bradbury Hub Foodbank and Wellness Centre partners with FareShare to provide a range of support to community members in need. Angela Ifonlaja, programme manager at the foodbank, which opened in 2021, said “it is absolutely crucial that we can get food that is stored and delivered safely”.
“We are creating food parcels so users come to our Centre to receive the packs to take home. We will always be here to support those who need us, but we hope those who come in don’t become long-term users.”
Polly Bianchi, director of fundraising at FareShare added: “The One Million Meals donation from SPAR will make a significant contribution to our work getting good-to-eat food, which might otherwise go to waste, to people who need it.”
