NEARLY 5,000 kilogrammes of food have been donated to East Lothian Foodbanks over a single weekend.

Generous East Lothian shoppers made the donations on July 3-5 at Tesco stores in Musselburgh, North Berwick and Haddington.

An army of volunteers inside the supermarkets asked shoppers to donate an item or two to help feed local people in crisis.

More than 90 per cent of the food given out by the foodbank comes from public donations.

East Lothian Foodbank manager Peter Dicker was delighted with the response over the three days.

He said: “East Lothian Foodbank wants to say a big thank you to all those who gave their food or time on July 3-5.

“It is hard to describe the difference giving a food parcel makes to parents whose children would otherwise go to bed hungry and it is people like you who make this possible, thank you.” The food donated, totalling 4,982.5kg, will be enough to feed more than 250 families, or 500 single people, or provide more than 2,000 meals.

Last year, East Lothian Foodbank collected a staggering six tonnes of food, which went on to feed more than 1,600 local men, women and children who would otherwise have had to face going hungry.

Food parcels typically contain items such as tinned fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, long-life juice and UHT milk.

MP Fiona O’Donnell was one of those backing the scheme.

She said: “We are so lucky in East Lothian to have churches and Rotarians who give the foodbank great support, not just on the big collection days but all year round.

“I stood down as a trustee this month, confident that East Lothian Foodbank has a secure future.

“I have mixed feelings when I say that.

“The Big Lottery funds give us that security but I would prefer that we didn’t live in a time when so many people in the county have to turn to the foodbank for help.”