Tesco shoppers in Dumfries and Galloway have donated more than 4,000 meals to help people less fortunate at Christmas.
The supermarket giant ran a winter food collection, with items donated going to charities such as FareShare and Trussell.
Nearly two million meals’ worth of long-life food items were donated across the UK, with 4,244 meals donated in Dumfries and Galloway.
Tesco CEO Ken Murphy said: “I just want to say a huge thank you to every single person who donated items at this year’s winter food collection. Their generosity is always so amazing and really helps to make a huge impact in communities across the UK supported by Trussell and FareShare.”
Items donated to Trussell are used to help food banks provide emergency food parcels to people who cannot afford the essentials, with FareShare donations going to frontline cahrities across the country.
Tesco also donates unsold food to FareShare as part of its community food connection scheme.
And the winter food collection also saw more than £340,000 donated to the charities by UK customers rounding up their bills at the till.
FareShare CEO, Kristopher Gibbon-Walsh, said: “Every year, we are blown away by the generosity of Tesco customers at the Winter Food Collection, and this year is no exception.
“Thank you to every single person that volunteered in store, donated an item of food, topped up their shopping bill, or made a donation to FareShare. Your kind support will ensure we can continue getting food out into the community, bringing people together and strengthening communities this winter.”
Tesco shoppers can continue donated food at permanent collection points at every Tesco store – including those in Dumfries, Annan, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright, Lockerbie and Stranraer.
Trussell CEO, Emma Revie, said: “We are so grateful to Tesco for supporting food banks to get through this season by organising this year’s winter food collection. Thank you to Tesco customers for coming out in support of your local food bank, to ensure they can continue helping everyone in your local community who is facing hunger and hardship this winter.
“Food banks in the Trussell community are a last resort for people who’ve been left facing hunger and hardship. They’re a lifeline, offering a warm welcome and space to be heard. But with so many people unable to afford the essentials right now, food banks continue to provide exceptionally high levels of emergency food, with many telling us they are at breaking point.
“Just over 1.4 million emergency food parcels were provided across the UK by food banks in our community, between April and September this year.”