A local food bank based in Enfield has received a helping hand this winter, after receiving generous donations of food items from customers at Asda’s Southgate Circus store.
The store’s food collection point, which was started two years ago, has become a regular drop-off point for customers who can purchase items during their shop in store. Colleagues at the store have been overwhelmed with the response of customers, who fill trolleys with goods in a bid to combat hunger across the area.
Set up in April 2012, North Enfield food bank aims to provide food and support those in the community who may otherwise go without. Founded by Jubilee Church and part of the Trussell Trust network, the food bank is supported by local churches and community groups.
On referral to the food bank, families receive three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced food. In 2017/18, The Trussell Trust’s Foodbank Network provided 1,332,952 of their three-day emergency food supplies to UK people in crisis. Of these, 484,026 went to children.
The supermarket’s role in supporting the food bank has helped to feed many vulnerable people this winter – a notoriously difficult time of year for those living on the breadline. Relying on charitable donations, the regular offerings from Asda Southgate Circus’ customers are welcomed by the food bank’s selfless volunteers.
Kerry Coe, of North Enfield food bank, said: “We are so thrilled to be working with ASDA to help support those in our community facing a crisis. ASDA have been so helpful in allowing us to have a collection point in store, and our local community donate so generously to the foodbank week after week.”
The collection point allows us to have a continuous donation point and throughout the year, this is so vital to ensure that we have enough food at the foodbank to meet the needs of our community. We are so grateful and look forward to working with ASDA in the future.”
Gifty Banno, people manager at Asda Southgate Circus, said: “We’re delighted to support Enfield food bank through the collection point in store and we’re always overwhelmed with the generosity of our customers. It’s not unusual here for a customer to do a £50 food shop and donate the entire trolley – the response is amazing.”
“The volunteers at the food bank really go above and beyond with what they do and help to ensure that those who need help don’t go hungry.”
“We understand that families can find it difficult over the winter period and sometimes find the increased cost of catering for their children a challenge, so we hope that our amazing customers donations can ease some of the pressure.”