ORDERING a takeaway is doing more than just putting food on your table: it has been helping feed people who would otherwise be doing without.
Home delivery firm Deliveroo says its Reading-based customers have helped provide more than 16,500 meals over the past six months, thanks to support from 6,000 customers who either made a donation or rounded up their bill.
The company has been making donations to The Trussell Trust, which operates a foodbank network across the country, providing emergency parcels of food, toiletries and pet food.
The Trust said that in August and September, its food banks distributed 46% more food parcels than in the same period last year, and it is now expecting to donate 1.3m emergency food parcels over the next six months.
Nationally, the partnership has provided more than a million meals from 1,300 food banks.
Carlo Mocci, chief business officer UK & Ireland, Deliveroo, said the partnership provised vital support to people facing hardship as cost of living pressures increase.
“I want to thank all of our generous Deliveroo customers in Reading who have contributed more than 16,000 meals to food banks, through their donations on the Deliveroo app,” he said.
“As we approach winter, we are committed to helping tackle hunger in Reading and across the UK.”
And Danni Malone, Director of Network Programmes and Innovation at the Trussell Trust, said: “As the nation faces soaring living costs, people on the very lowest incomes are facing the toughest challenges. Food banks are telling us that families across the country are having to make impossible decisions between putting food on the table or switching on the lights – and too many people are being left with no option but to use a food bank because their money simply won’t stretch.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has generously donated to the Trussell Trust through Deliveroo’s in-app round-up function.
“These donations are helping us support our network as they provide emergency food and in-food bank support to thousands of people facing immediate hardship during this challenging period, while we work together in the long term to build a future without the need for food banks.”
Reading’s food bank, ReadiFood, is independent and run by Faith Christian Group.
