ASDA Food Drive

Barking Foodbank is celebrating the success of its recent partnership with ASDA, which saw local residents come together to support families facing hardship. The nationwide Food Drive, held from Friday 13 June to Saturday 15 June, ran across all large ASDA stores, including the Barking Superstore and Chadwell Heath Superstore.

Over the course of the two-day event, generous shoppers donated hundreds of essential food items, from tinned goods and pasta to cereals and long-life milk. These donations will go directly to people in crisis across Barking and Dagenham, providing emergency food parcels at a time when demand for support is at record levels.

Volunteers from Barking Foodbank joined ASDA colleagues in-store, encouraging shoppers to give what they could. Many local residents stopped by to contribute, with some bringing extra items from home after learning about the appeal.

Why It Matters

The partnership between ASDA, the Trussell Trust, and local foodbanks has been running since 2018. In that time, it has supported over 1.4 million people nationwide, funding vital services and ensuring foodbanks like Barking can meet rising demand.

With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, Barking Foodbank has seen more families than ever needing help. Many are in work but struggling to afford essentials after paying bills and rent. Donations from events like the Food Drive make a real difference, helping to ease the pressure on households and reduce the reliance on emergency food in the long term.

A Community Effort

The Food Drive highlighted the strength of community spirit in Barking and Chadwell Heath. Every tin, packet, or bag of food collected will help bring hope and relief to local families.

A spokesperson for Barking Foodbank said:

“We are so grateful to everyone who donated during the ASDA Food Drive. Each item given will go straight to someone in need in our community. We also want to thank our amazing volunteers and ASDA colleagues for their support — together, we’re fighting hunger.”

How You Can Still Help

Although the Food Drive has ended, support is needed all year round. Local residents can continue to donate at collection points in ASDA stores or directly at Barking Foodbank. Volunteers are also always welcome to join the team and help provide vital frontline support.