Tesco customers can pick up an extra bag to put through the checkout this Easter, allowing shoppers to aid struggling families during the school holidays.

Customers visiting Tesco can grab an additional bag filled with healthy, long-life food items, specifically pre-packed to support those facing financial hardships. From April 7 to 20, each large Tesco store across the UK will feature these donation bags for the Easter Holiday Helps initiative.

This effort is part of Tesco's broader Stronger Starts campaign, which continuously supports schoolchildren throughout the year. The campaign includes the Fruit and Veg for Schools programme, which delivers grants to over 400 schools with high rates of free school meal eligibility.

These grants allow schools to buy fruit and vegetables from Tesco, ensuring healthier snacking and lunch options for pupils.

Claire De Silva, Tesco's Head of Communities, said: "With the lack of free school meal provision during the holidays we know that families find it difficult to make ends meet and give their kids nutritious meals. Our pre-packed donation bags will give a much needed top up to FareShare and Trussell and make a difference to the lives of thousands of children and their families."

Trussell's food banks are a lifeline for families throughout the year, with nearly two-thirds of their support going to families with children last year. In 2024, they handed out more than 3.1 million emergency food parcels to those in need – a staggering increase of 94% over the past five years.

Over 1.1 million of these parcels were for children.

FareShare, the UK's largest food redistribution charity, provides surplus food that is still good to eat to various charities and community groups across the UK—three-quarters of which help families with children. According to FareShare's most recent impact report, the food they provide helps children access nutritious meals, and two-thirds of parents reported an improvement in their children's school performance.

Tesco continues its year-round support of FareShare and other community groups by redistributing unsold food from all its stores through its Community Food Connection programme, which has provided more than 220 million meals. Customers can also donate the value of their Clubcard vouchers to either FareShare or Trussell online.

Emma Revie, CEO at Trussell Trust, said: "Our network of food banks distributed more than 1.1 million food parcels for children last year, almost double the amount provided just five years ago and this illustrates the unacceptable levels of hardship that many people are currently facing. No one should need to turn to a charity for something as essential as food, and as we work towards achieving the long-term change needed, Tesco's support this Easter will make a real difference to families across the UK."