A SUPERMARKET giant has teamed up with a local foodbank to collect food for local people facing hunger.

Asda will collect food donations at its Trafford Park Supercentre for two weeks from Saturday, May 12 to Friday, May 25.

The food drive will collect vital supplies for Stretford Foodbank, which has been serving people living north of the River Mersey since 2013.

The food drive is part of Asda's new three-year ‘Fight Hunger Create Change’ programme, working in partnership with foodbank charity The Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity FareShare. It's part of the supermarket's commitment to help tackle hunger across the country.

As a member of The Trussell Trust’s network, over the next three years, Stretford Foodbank will be able to access a range of additional support and resources thanks to this partnership.

Stretford Foodbank hope the high-profile partnership will lead to grant funding opportunities to support its work, particularly in offering additional services beyond emergency food.

The charity says the partnership will also provide a unique opportunity to offer fresh food and produce alongside the standard non-perishable emergency parcels, as well as lend extra support with the day-to-day running of the foodbank with help from Asda community champions.

The programme will also support The Trussell Trust’s research work by gathering more evidence about what drives foodbank use, so that the charity can work towards a future where fewer people need a foodbank’s help.

Last year, the foodbank provided 2,544 three-day emergency food supplies to local people in crisis, with 1,052 of these parcels feeding children.

With Asda's help, the foodbank hopes to be able to feed even more people this year.

Stretford Foodbank Manager, Paul Guest, said: “No one in Trafford should need a foodbank’s help and we want to see an end to local people needing emergency food.

"Until that time, we’ll continue to provide vital support when it matters most. But in order to do so, we rely on the community’s donations.

"We’re only able to offer emergency food, a welcoming space to chat over a cuppa and additional support because of the incredible generosity shown by local people.

"We’d love to have your support during the food drive at Trafford Park Asda to ensure we’re stocked up on the food we need to provide help to people who are facing a hunger crisis."

Stretford Foodbank distributes food to people in Davyhulme, Firswood, Flixton, Gorse Hill, Old Trafford, Stretford and Urmston.