How far can a supermarket and charity group stretch £1 or £2?
That smallest donation could provide food for two meals at a family day centre. Doubling that could provide food for five breakfasts at a children’s breakfast club.
With those statistics in hand and knowing they can make a huge difference during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK supermarket Sainsbury’s and the charitable organisation FareShare are launching a food donation programme – digitally – to combat hunger and food waste.
The unique partnership deal will allow customers who shop for food online on Sainsbury’s website to be able to set aside monies for those in need.
“We are proud to have been a founding partner of FareShare since its inception over 25 years ago and we are delighted to be able to continue our work with the charity, while offering new ways for our customers to donate,” Judith Batchelar, Director of Sainsbury’s Brand, said. “With increasing pressure on community groups and charities, we are committed to further support our mission to feed the nation and work with our longstanding partners to help the communities we all serve.”
Sainsbury’s says all of the proceeds go toward food purchases and allow for FareShare to distribute those items across its network in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
As many retailers have in providing help to charitable causes, Sainsbury’s has really stepped up over the past few months in its work to help the less fortunate. That includes a volunteer shopping cards scheme in which customers can purchase items for those who are vulnerable and by working with Comic Relief and BBC Children to raise and then match nearly £2 million donations from its own customers.
“As we draw nearer to the cold winter months, we know that there will be an increased need for food from the frontline charities we work with, which is why we’re so pleased that Sainsbury’s is running this new Food Donations Programme,” Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive at FareShare, said.
