Food donation hub to open at Blackpool Tower from Friday

People are being asked to donate food at an emergency hub being set up at the attraction which is currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Volunteers from Merlin, which operates the Tower, and staff who are on furlough leave, will work with Blackpool Food Bank to gather and distribute essential items to those most in need.

It comes after the food bank delivered a month's worth of food parcels in one day, helping 300 people who otherwise would have gone without.

Kate Shane, head of Merlin in Blackpool, said: "The Blackpool Food Bank team already do incredible work supporting the citizens of Blackpool.

"However now more than ever they need our help, so from this Friday we are making the Blackpool Tower a food hub, to allow the residents of Blackpool to drop off food items to be redistributed to those in need.

"I am very proud of the team we have at the Merlin attractions in Blackpool, they are an amazing group of people and when we suggested supporting the Blackpool Food Bank they were more than happy to volunteer.

"So if people can afford to add an extra couple of items to their shop and drop it off at the Tower, together we can help feed Blackpool."

Neil Reid, of Blackpool Food Bank, said normally much of their supplies were met from supermarket surpluses.

But recent demand on the supermarkets meant "there was no surplus" while restrictions on shoppers had stopped the charity from being able to buy some essential items such as tinned food.

At the same time, the need for help has increased.

He said: "Last Friday we gave out 300 parcels in one day - that's a month work in one day and illustrates the challenge we are facing.

"The kind of people we are supporting are those like one man with cancer, who NHS staff contacted us about.

"He is being cared for by his only family member, his teenage son and they had no food in the house.

"We were able to take them some food, and he could not believe the kindness of those who helped."

People are being urged to buy additional items with their shopping to drop off at the Tower entrance on the Promenade.

Drop off times are between 9am and noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Vehicles can pull up in front of the Tower to drop off their contributions into receptacles in the foyer area behind the first set of doors.

The entry and exit points will be barriered off to ensure safe distancing.

Food required is tins of all the following - carrots, peas, potatoes, fruit, chopped tomatoes, sweetcorn, tuna, meat (ham/corned beef etc), soup, rice pudding, baked beans, curry, spaghetti, ravioli, kidney beans and butter beans (or other beans such as chick pea).

Also on the list are pasta, rice, UHT milk, large cereal, pasta sauce, pot noodles, pasta 'n' sauce pots, cup-a-soup, nuts, crisps, biscuits, coffee, tea bags and sugar.

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