Grantham Foodbank partners with Morrisons in new food parcel trial

Grantham Foodbank has partnered up with Morrisons supermarket as part of a new trial.

Shoppers will now be able to purchase food parcels that can be bought and donated at the checkout.

The supermarket has partnered with 50 foodbanks across the UK that are part of the Trussell Trust network, including Grantham, which have been identified as those that would most benefit from additional local support.

The supermarket’s new ‘Pick Up Packs’ cost between £1 and £3 and contain a mix of food products that have been requested by the local foodbank based on their own needs.

Customers can pick one up at the start of their shop and pay for it at the till with the rest of their shopping. The pack is then collected by volunteers working for the foodbank.

Additionally, Morrisons, in partnership with the Trussell Trust, has also become the first UK supermarket to trial an online donation mechanism that goes straight into the pockets of local foodbanks. Customers can purchase £10 vouchers on the Morrisons Food Boxes website which gets sent directly to a foodbank of their choice.

The online scheme was initially piloted with five foodbanks, including Grantham’s, and has now been rolled out to 50 nationally.

Brian Hanbury, Grantham Foodbank co-ordinator, was pleased to take part.

He said: “A £10 foodbank donation box bought from their food box range gives us vouchers to buy supplies. This will provide exactly what we require.

“ A big thank you to our local Morrisons and its customers. This is part of what makes Grantham great.”

Rebecca Singleton, community director at Morrisons, added: “The UK’s foodbanks are a lifeline for the most vulnerable and these parcels and vouchers are an easy way to donate.

“We want to play our full part in feeding the nation and ensure nobody gets left behind.”