TWO charities providing vital food to people hit by the Covid-19 pandemic are appealing for people in Oswestry to help support the UK’s biggest food collection this Christmas.

From Thursday, November 19 until Saturday, November 21 charities FareShare and the Trussell Trust will be collecting food in Tesco stores across Shropshire during the annual pre-Christmas Tesco Food Collection.

FareShare are looking for people to volunteer at donation points in store while the Trussell Trust is looking for social media volunteers to share shopping lists on social media to encourage people to donate.

During the collection customers are encouraged to donate long-life food to help food banks and community groups support people this Christmas.

Tesco say they will top up customer donations by 20 per cent in cash to aid the two charities in their work.

Emma Schoolar, Trussell Trust’s regional manager in West Midlands, encouraged people to volunteer.

“A crisis can often bring out the best in people, and we have been overwhelmed by the support the UK has shown towards food banks in light of the coronavirus outbreak," she said.

"As we look to the one of the busiest times of the year for foodbanks in our network, we would be so grateful if people can share shopping lists of their local foodbank’s most-needed items on their social media to encourage friends and family to donate.

"Together we can make a difference and ensure that food banks are able to help people in crisis this winter.”

Meanwhile FareShare has tripled the amount of food it has been providing since the start of the pandemic and will be supplying food to 11,000 front-line charities and community groups supporting people this winter.

FareShare’s development manager in West Midlands, Laura Spencer, added: “We know that many people have already fallen victim to the economic impact of the pandemic and thousands more are at risk of losing their jobs and livelihoods.

"We have seen a huge increase in people turning to their local grassroots community groups for support and demand for food is more than double pre-pandemic levels.

“We would be hugely grateful to anyone who is able to volunteer this year to encourage more shoppers to donate much needed ambient food to those who need it most.”

Volunteers will need to adhere to the Covid-19 rules in place in the store and locally when they participate.

People interested in volunteering can find out more and sign up at fareshare.org.uk/foodcollection