WATCH: Tesco Ireland surprises Limerick-based charity with 'vantastic' festive feast

A DELIVERY van filled with everything needed to host a festive feast for those spending Christmas in the Mid-West Simon Community family hubs has been donated to the charity.

As part of the ‘No Time for Waste’ initiative, Tesco Ireland has surprised the Mid-West Simon Community by donating a retired grocery delivery van to the charity, filled with toys, turkeys, hams and all the trimmings. 

In the last year, Mid-West Simon has seen a 30% in the need for their Foodbank services, according to Mid-West Simon chief executive Jackie Bonfield.

“Since we launched our services in 2014 we have grown exponentially and we now support 7,000 people regularly through our services,” Ms Bonfield said.

As part of the ‘No Time for Waste’ programme, Tesco stores in Kilrush, Ennis, Coonagh and Roxboro regularly give surplus food to the Mid-West Simon Community several times a week, equalling more than 100,000 meals since 2014.

“Tesco has been with us since the start,” Ms Bonfield said.

“The surplus food donations that we receive each week from the local Tesco stores make all the difference in the level of service we can provide to those who need it the most”

The fully serviced and CVRT certified delivery van will now be used by the charity to help redistribute food to charities across Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary.

The van also features integrated refrigeration units that will allow the charity to store food in the fridge, freezer or cupboard compartments until donated to those in need.

More than 275 community groups nationwide avail of the benefits of Tesco’s surplus food donations including family resource centres, soup kitchens, youth services, homeless organisations and meals on wheels.

The company is now calling on new community groups who could benefit from receiving surplus food donations to register to become part of the programme.

For more information, check out  tesco.ie/notimeforwaste.