THE North East’s largest shopping centre is urging households to help the hungry, by donating to a food bank.
Last year, staff and shoppers at intu Metrocentre, Gateshead, donated more than 200kg of dried and tinned food to Gateshead Foodbank to help those in need – and the aim is to donate even more this year.
So, in a bid to help as many people as possible, intu Metrocentre is asking shoppers to bring in food products they don’t use or want – or, perhaps, have given up for Lent.
The initiative, which will last until 20 March, is the brainchild of intu Metrocentre Chaplain Lyn Jamieson, who said: “It is very sad indeed to think that, in this day and age, in this borough, there are still people who do not have enough to eat.
“These may be families whose benefits arrive late or are reduced, people leaving an abusive relationship, with nowhere to go and no money, or students who can’t make ends meet – sadly, there are very many causes and levels of hardship.
“The Gateshead Foodbank has been set up to help those most in need and as intu Metrocentre is at the very heart of the community, we are committed to gathering as much food and awareness as possible.”
Last year, foodbanks across the UK gave more than 500,000 emergency three-day food supplies to people in crisis. More than a third of the emergency foodbank supplies went to children.
The centre is calling for donations of:
- Milk (UHT or powdered)
- Sugar
- Long life fruit juice
- Tinned food
- Pasta sauces
- Breakfast cereals
- Tea bags and jars of instant coffee
- Instant mash
- 500g rice and pasta
- Jars of jam
- Packets or biscuits and snacks
Donations can be handed in at any of the centre’s customer services desks or the Centre Management Offices, 1st floor, next to House of Fraser. For more information visit www.intumetrocentre.co.uk.