FOOD redistribution charity FareShare is launching its tenth Food Collection to help feed people in need this winter.

Between November 30 and December 2 the charity is seeking ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ to volunteer for a three hour shift at Tesco in Prestwich.

Based in Manchester, FareShare Greater Manchester takes surplus food from the food and drink industry and delivers it to local charities, with the help of their dedicated volunteers.

But, because most of the food is fresh, the charity urgently needs store cupboard essentials for local charities and community groups to use all year round.

Volunteers will spread Christmas cheer by encouraging shoppers to donate one or two long-life items in store such as packets of pasta, rice, tea and tins of tomatoes.

FareShare Greater Manchester will then redistribute the donated food to local charities including homeless shelters, children’s breakfast clubs, women’s refuges, and older people’s lunch clubs.

FareShare chief executive Lindsey Boswell, said: “By volunteering a few hours this Christmas, you could collect enough food donations to make 600 meals. And the donated food will make a tremendous difference to local charities doing amazing work with some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Last year we collected an incredible amount of food but the need is only increasing and we want 2017 to be our biggest year ever.

“You don’t need any special skills or magic dust to be a little helper this Christmas, you just have to stand in your local supermarket for a few hours, chat to shoppers and encourage them to buy an extra food item if they can.

“It’s a quick and easy way to make a practical difference, and it’s a lot of fun. The more helpers the merrier, so get your friends, family and colleagues involved.”

During last year’s festive Food Collection, Tesco shoppers donated enough food to provide 3.4 million meals for vulnerable people across the UK, making it the country’s biggest food drive. Tesco will also top-up donations by 20 percent, enabling FareShare to get even more food to people in need. You can sign up to the Christmas Food Collection either as an individual or as a team, with friends, colleagues or family. To sign up for a shift by visiting fareshare.org.uk/get-involved/food-collection/