Football legend’s trolley dash as Sprowston shoppers support the foodbank

Shoppers and staff at Tesco’s Blue Boar Lane store donated about two van loads of food to Norwich foodbank. Robert Fleck took part in a two minute trolley dash and collected food to the value of £199.71 for the foodbank. (Image: submitted)

Shoppers and staff at Tesco's Blue Boar Lane store donated about two van loads of food - including long-life milk, tinned foods, coffee and Christmas treats - during last week's collection drive which ran from November 24 to 29.

On Thursday Mr Fleck took part in a two minute trolley dash and collected food to the value of £199.71 for the foodbank.

Tesco also added an extra 30pc to the food donations made in the store for Norwich foodbank, and all the food collected will be given to people in need who have been referred to the foodbank by care agencies such as children services, Age UK and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Grant Habershon, the Norwich foodbank project manager, said he estimated about two tons of food had been collected.

He said: 'The response from Tesco customers and staff was fantastic. It was the whole community getting involved to help local people. It's tremendous.'

He added: 'Winter can be the hardest time of year for people living in poverty, and this Christmas is looking especially tough as many people on low incomes are already really struggling. We're delighted that Tesco are working with us to help stop local people going hungry this Christma.'

Debby Kirby, community champion at Tesco's Blue Boar Lane store, said: 'In the run up to Christmas we want to do our bit to feed those in need in our local community.'

Last December, Norwich foodbank gave three days of food to 1,049 local people in crisis.

• For more about Norwich foodbank click on the partners section of the website www.networknorwich.co.uk, email admin@norwich.foodbank.org.uk or follow @norwichfoodbank on Twitter.

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