A RUNCORN opticians has donated 42.15kg of food to a food bank charity over the past month.

Between March and April, the Specsavers Runcorn team encouraged dried, tinned or preserved food donations to be dropped off in store, which were then sent to Runcorn and District Foodbank.

Runcorn and District Foodbank provides three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them.

The charity forms part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

Eddie Thompson, manager at Runcorn and District Foodbank, says: "Thank you at Specsavers for your donation of 42.15 kg of food, which represents over 120 meals provided to people in need. We could not operate without food donations such as yours.

"We are experiencing even more demand for our services in the current economic climate of increasing food, household and energy prices, all of which impact heavily on people in precarious financial situations.

"In February 2024, we provided 234 adults and 160 children with food for three days. Your generosity enables us to continue helping the most vulnerable people in our area, so thank you again for thinking of the foodbank."

Chris Graham, director at Specsavers Runcorn, says: "This is a charity close to the store's heart, and we will no doubt continue to give back for a long time to come. No one should have to go without food, and with the current cost of living situation, we knew we had to help those struggling the most.

"We’d like to thank our lovely customers who without which we would have never raised so many meals for the community."