BIG-HEARTED supermarket customers and staff have pulled together to raise more than £6,000 to support a Pershore foodbank as demand rises.

A weekly “bonus ball” competition at the Co-op has helped pay for a further £1,300 basket of groceries for Pershore's foodbank, taking the total raised to £6,000 within 18 months.

The fundraising drive has helped buy tinned fruit, vegetables, rice pudding, custard tea, coffee, jam, treats and, toiletries.

Anne Elliot of Pershore Foodbank, said: “We are delighted with the support from the Co-op.

"With ever increasing referrals and growing demand it is only with the help of the community that we’re able to continue our work.

"While we would prefer for there not to be a need for the foodbank, as long as there remains people facing crisis in our area we will continue to offer our emergency support.”

Kevin Pritchard, store manager for the Co-op in Racecourse Road – who along with colleagues helped to organise the collection, said: “As a community retailer we are pleased to support the foodbank and its work to make a difference to the lives of people locally who are in difficulty.

"We would like to say a huge thank you to members, customers and colleagues whose generous donations and support will make a big difference to people in need in our community.”

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