Cost-of-living crisis: Tesco helps Glasgow food bank

Carol Monaghan, MP for Glasgow North West, joined food bank volunteers at the supermarket on Friday, December 1 to help the Glasgow Times Bank On Us appeal.

It comes as Newsquest staff also stepped in to help the cause by encouraging shoppers to donate what they could.

Now in its fifth year, Bank on Us seeks to help families in need over Christmas with our festive food and toy drive.

A list of items the food bank needs (Image: Sourced)

Glasgow’s North West food bank was given a big boost by generous Tesco customers. (Image: Sourced)

Today helpers handed out lists with wanted items and filled Glasgow Times bags with donations that could be used for struggling families.

SNP’s Carol Monaghan said: “It is very busy as there is a high demand for help at the food bank but unfortunately donations are down.

“People have been so generous this morning, it is often people who don’t have much themselves that really try and give.

“It is important to remind people that others in the community are struggling especially at this time of year.

“We are seeing issues with the prices of food and fuel which mean people are left choosing between heating and eating.

“Today it is absolutely freezing cold even when inside so it makes you think of the struggle some people are facing.

“It is so important we keep this initiative going but it is disgraceful that we need food banks in the 21st century in a developed country.

“I am so thankful for the volunteers and staff at Tesco who are working hard today.”

Carol Monaghan, MP for Glasgow North West, with Tesco staff (Image: Sourced)

Customers were quick to fill up the bags (Image: Newsquest)

Shona, project manager at Glasgow’s North West food bank said: “At the moment we are seeing a big rise in people coming to the food bank.

“We are feeding 250 to 300 people on a weekly basis “Our donations are down but more people are coming through the door because everyone is feeling that pinch.

“As much as people want to pop something in a basket in the supermarket for us, prices are through the roof and so they just can't afford it.

“We are spending more than we ever have done before to keep up.”

Food bank volunteers worked with Tesco (Image: Sourced)

Paper bags are being inserted into every copy of the Glasgow Times to let readers get involved in a food drive which will help places like Glasgow North West Foodbank.

Those who are able to donate are being asked to fill the bags with food items and hand them into one of our partner food banks.

This year, our Christmas campaign is more important than ever due to the cost-of-living crisis with thousands of families struggling to heat their homes and put food on the table.

As well as the food drive, the Glasgow Times will be raising money for our Bank on Us toy drive via GoFundMe.

All proceeds will be used to purchase toys which will be distributed to charities around the city to be handed out to parents and put under the tree.

The Bank on Us 2023 campaign is proudly sponsored by Arnold Clark, Stagecoach, Allied Vehicles, Spar Scotland, Storage Vault and StepChange.

Bank On Us sponsors (Image: Newsquest)