MP supports food collection project

He went along to Tesco Extra at Clifton Road to donate two bags of food to its national scheme.

The MP was met by the store’s community champion Lynn Sumners, who introduced him to some of the local beneficiaries including ‘His Provision Blackpool’.

Mr Marsden said: “I was pleased to be able to go along and support the Tesco Neighbourhood Food Collection scheme and hear about the difference it was making to people living in Blackpool.

“There are still too many people, who for different reasons are finding themselves in times of hardship.

“From my casework, I also see how the cuts to council budgets and our welfare system are also having a detrimental effect on the poorest in Blackpool - this cannot allow to go on.

“That’s why I am pleased to see local businesses such as Tesco, who have a strong community ethos, as well as voluntary groups and faith groups all stepping up to the plate in supporting and protecting some of our most vulnerable groups in the town.”

During the drop in, Mr Marsden met up with the team from His Provision, who encourage people to volunteer in exchange for more food parcels.

He said this was a good way for people to get more involved in their local community at the same time as receiving food for their family.

Since it has been running the Tesco’s Neighbourhood Food collection has helped raise 30 million meals for people in need.

This includes customer donations as well as a 20 per cent top up from Tesco and their surplus food donations.

Tesco’s two main charity partners on the project have been The Trussell Trust and FareShare.

Other supermarkets in Blackpool also take part in similar schemes enabling customers to donate food items which are then donated to people in need.