Speaking after meeting volunteers and donors, Carla Lockhart MP said:

“On Friday I visited Tesco in Banbridge and Craigavon to show my support for the Big Food Collection for our local food bank in Craigavon and for Via Wings. I can honestly say the generosity I witnessed was unreal. People were literally handing over full bags of extra groceries. It was brilliant to see that level of kindness in action.

Although the Tesco appeal has wrapped up, the need in our community is still very real. Sadly, many families will struggle to put food on the table this Christmas. If you are out doing your Christmas shop, or running a collection of your own, lifting one extra item could make a huge difference to someone who is finding things tough.

A massive thank you must go to every volunteer who stood, handed out leaflets and encouraged people to give. The volunteers were fantastic. I also want to pay special tribute to Tesco and their community champions who went above and beyond in partnering with our food banks and ensuring the whole collection ran so smoothly. Their support was invaluable.

Northern Ireland is known for its big heart, and Upper Bann has proved once again that we are a community that looks out for each other. I am so grateful to everyone who played their part.”