Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, is urging her constituents to support the Neighbourhood Food Collection, the summer’s national food collection organised by Tesco in partnership with charities, The Trussell Trust and FareShare.

The Neighbourhood Food Collection is aiming to provide at least four million meals to people in need this summer. To date, the campaign has collected 21.5million meals since it launched in 2012.

In Newcastle North, volunteers will be collecting food at the Tesco Extra store in Kingston Park between Thursday 2nd July and Saturday 4th July. Smaller stores, like Chapel House’s Tesco Express, have been receiving donations since 22nd June.

The collection is particularly important in summer months, when many parents whose children receive free school meals face a tough time feeding their families over the long school break.

Catherine said:

‘We know that more than one million people received three days’ emergency food supply from Trussell Trust foodbanks alone last year – a staggering 400,000 of which were children.

‘For families whose finances are already severely stretched, the summer holidays can prove particularly tough. I’m therefore really pleased to add my support to this year’s Neighbourhood Food Collection appeal.

‘I would strongly urge Newcastle North constituents to consider joining one of the local volunteer teams, or to donate food whilst doing their shopping.’

People can sign up as volunteers to support the Neighbourhood Food Collection with either FareShare here, or with The Trussell Trust here.