VOLUNTEERS helping alleviate poverty and reduce food waste in Teignbridge have been thanked by supermarket giant Tesco. 

The supermarket chain has reached the milestone of donating 220 million meals to those in need through its Community Food Connection programme with the food charity FareShare.

One of the groups to benefit from the programme is Teignbridge Homeless Action Today (THAT) Food Bank, which supplies essential items such as food, toiletries, home start packs, and fuel top ups.

Lin Wooldridge, from THAT Food Bank, said: ‘We supply tailored-to-need food packs, depending on the size of the family. 

‘We also give male and female toiletry packs and household cleaning packs.

‘Our relationship with Tesco is fantastic. Through Tesco and FareShare Go, we tend to get veg, salad, fruit, sometimes bread, occasionally eggs. 

‘Food is everything – it’s vital. People say it’s an absolute lifeline.’

To commemorate the occasion, Tesco is paying tribute to the volunteers, community groups and Tesco colleagues who have contributed to the success of the partnership.

Over the years, the partnership has seen 9,912,493 meals’ worth of food donated in the region.

Matthew Barnes, UK CEO of Tesco, said: ‘None of this could have been done without the passion, determination and drive of the countless people in places such as Teignbridge who have contributed to it, and it is to them today that we say a big thank you.’

Now in its 12th year, Tesco’s partnership with FareShare sees surplus food from stores and distribution centres donated to FareShare’s network of charities, community groups and food banks.