FOOD delivery service, Deliveroo, plans to launch a food collection service – creatively named ‘Collecteroo’ – in partnership with the Trussell Trust. The initiative is also backed by Olympic champion, Nicola Adams.
The campaign comes after research commissioned by Deliveroo revealed that over 7 in 10 Brits have unopened food items in their cupboard that could be donated to food banks.
The Collecteroo service aims to help the Trussell Trust get closer to providing the 1.3 million emergency food parcels that are expected to be needed over the next six months.
The vans will collect unopened and in-date food items from homes and will deliver them to food banks in the Trussell Trust network.
Food collections will start on December 12 in Manchester and will end on December 17 in London. They will also visit Cardiff and Glasgow.
People who wish to arrange a food collection from their home can apply here. Applications will close on November 28.
More people will be able to donate to food banks as a result of the campaign, including those who are physically unable to do so at a supermarket donation point.
The new ‘Collecteroo’ food collection initiative, part of Deliveroo’s Full Life campaign, comes at a critical time when more than half (58%) of Brits feel more charitable and are more likely to donate during the Christmas season.
The Trussell Trust ensures that all food parcels distributed by their network of food banks contain at least three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced meals.
‘Collecteroo’ is encouraging people to donate the following items, where possible, in accordance with the food suggestions on the Trussell Trust website:
- Tinned fruit
- Tinned meat / fish
- UHT milk
- Tinned tomatoes / pasta sauce
- Sponge or rice puddings
- Long-life juice
Collecteroo is grateful for the support of Olympic boxing champion and Strictly Come Dancing star Nicola Adams OBE.
One of her many ways of giving back to the community is by championing Deliveroo and the Trussell Trust’s ‘Collecteroo’ initiative.
She said: “I know how challenging it is for some families to put food on the table, and although they shouldn’t be needed, I’m so thankful that food banks are there to provide compassionate and practical relief.They do an incredible job at helping people facing hardship , and now, more than ever, it is vital that people who can donate, offer their support, where possible.
“That’s why I’m using my platform and my voice this Christmas to raise awareness around this important initiative from Deliveroo and the Trussell Trust.”
Deliveroo announced its nationwide partnership with the Trussell Trust in April 2022. It is part of its Full Life campaign, which aims to provide up to two million meals as well as vital support for people facing hunger across the country.
For the first time, Deliveroo launched a new in-app function enabling customers to round-up their orders and donate to the Trussell Trust’s 1,300 food bank centres.
Thanks to these order round ups, Deliveroo and its customers across the UK have helped to provide 1.5 million meals to food banks in the Trussell Trust network so far.
Will Shu, CEO and Founder of Deliveroo, said: “Our partnership with the Trussell Trust has already provided 1.5 million meals to food banks and communities across the country, thanks to Deliveroo customers in the UK who have donated so far.
“Our research highlights that people have food in their cupboards that they would like to donate, so working closely with the Trussell Trust, our ‘Collecteroo’ service will help make it easier for people to donate by connecting local residents to local food banks. Together with our consumers, we are committed to helping to tackle hunger across the UK.”
Danni Malone, Director of Network Programmes and Innovation at the Trussell Trust, said: “Food banks in the Trussell Trust network are facing their toughest winter yet and expect to distribute more than 1.3 million emergency food parcels over the next six months – more than half a million of these parcels will be for children.
“This drastic increase in need means that food banks are currently distributing more food than they are receiving and this is placing significant pressure on them at a time when they’re also struggling with rising operational costs including energy bills and petrol prices.
“All of these factors mean that we need donations more than ever before and are therefore delighted to be working with Deliveroo on their collection campaign this winter. The ‘Collecteroo’ initiative will make a real difference to our food banks in these cities by making it easier to donate and helping to ensure that they have the stock they need to keep going this winter.”
