Dundee’s Overgate asks locals to Dare to Care in annual food bank initiative

An annual initiative to support food banks in Dundee has launched on Halloween, urging locals to ‘Dare to Care’.

Organised by the city’s Overgate in partnership with The Trussell Trust, the drive will run until Sunday November 8, aiming to boost Christmas supplies for the local area.

Across Overgate’s Food Bank Week, cash and product donations of tinned food, dry and jar food, toiletries, nappies, UHT milk and juice and pet food will be welcomed by a dedicated team at Overgate’s Customer Service Desk.

There is also a special window display, and a pyramid of cans to showcase the food donated.

Funds generated in November from the hire of the centre’s popular Kiddie Cars will also be donated by Overgate to purchase additional items for Food Bank Week.

Last year, 2,508 items with a value of £3,404 were donated to Overgate’s Food Bank winter appeal, and £472 was made in cash donations.

14,284 people in Dundee were fed by The Trussell Trust last year, 4,998 of whom were children.

Nationwide, the Trust’s network is forecast to give out six emergency food parcels a minute this winter to people in crisis, a 61% increase on last year.

Malcolm Angus, Overgate’s centre manager, said: “The Trussell Trust is a wonderful charity dedicated to combating poverty and providing help to those most in need and Overgate is pleased to be launching this new initiative to support the Trust’s work in Dundee across the winter.

“We were blown away by the generosity of so many of our customers last year and saw first-hand the impact their donations made. This year, in what has been a remarkable collective effort by the Overgate team and many of our retailers, we hope the public will Dare to Care during Food Bank Week and help once again to boost Christmas supplies for local food banks.

“Donations can be made between today and the 8th of November by visiting the Customer Service Desk where any of our team will gratefully accept all support.”