The cash will be used to support those most vulnerable during the coronavirus crisis.
Asda is donating £5 million to food banks and community charities working to support vulnerable people during the coronavirus crisis.
The money will be used by FareShare and the Trussell Trust to provide over four million meals to families in poverty across the UK.
Another 3,000 charities will be given the opportunity to access free food over the next three months as they fight to tackle the impacts of Covid-19 in their communities.
The supermarket giant is also investing in logistics and support services that will allow food banks to get produce to where it is most needed. This includes funding for deliveries and communications as well as supporting an additional 20,000 volunteers.
Asda has already confirmed that it is working to recruit more than 5000 people into temporary roles from industries impacted by the crisis, helping to ensure people are kept in jobs. Staff will also be given an extra week’s pay in June to thank them for their efforts during the crisis.
Asda CEO Roger Burnley said: “These are the most extraordinary of times and I am keenly aware of our responsibility to help feed the nation – both by keeping our shelves stocked and deliveries moving – but also by providing employment opportunities where we can and supporting our charity partners to help the most vulnerable in our communities.
“The efforts my colleagues are going to support our customers every day are fantastic, and we will continue to recognise their efforts wherever we can. I also want to thank our amazing customers who continue to donate to our food bank trollies and who continue to think of others, even in such worrying times.”
Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, welcomed the donation. She said: “Food banks face an unprecedented challenge in the coming months. As the coronavirus outbreak unfolds, more people are likely to need emergency food at exactly the same time as fewer volunteers are able to help.
“The resilience of food banks is nothing short of outstanding, and we’re working closely with our network to help ensure that wherever possible, people unable to afford the essentials can access help. But this is not easy. That’s why this support from Asda will make such a difference.
“This funding will help us recruit and train new food bank volunteers across the UK, and support the coordination of packing and delivering pre-made food parcels to people who need a food bank’s help, but can’t leave their homes.”
Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of FareShare, added: “In this unprecedented time of Covid-19 crisis, we are immensely grateful to our partner Asda for their incredible support of £5 million. This will aid FareShare to adapt its models to reach the one million vulnerable people who we currently serve and work with our network of frontline charities to achieve the vital doorstep food deliveries and new food distribution methods we know are so essential at this time.”
