Students at Keele University are collecting food to donate to the most vulnerable people in the community to help ensure their stocks don’t run low amid the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

The scheme, run by the Keele Students’ Union, is helping students who are moving home from their campus accommodation to donate their non-perishable food to the community and the Newcastle-Staffs Trussell Trust Food Bank.

The student’s union is also donating large quantities of fresh food from their canteen to local organisations and charities that help the most vulnerable people in the community.

Every year Keele students take part in The Great Donate initiative, a scheme whereby students donate usable goods such as non-perishable food and household items that they don’t wish to take with them when they move out of halls of residence. Last year, Keele students donated an estimated 5,800 meals to Newcastle-Staffs Trussell Trust Food Bank, and in the last six years, they donated approximately 10 tonnes of food in total equating to 23,200 meals.

Newcastle’s local food bank is part of The Trussell Trust’s network working to tackle food poverty and hunger in the UK. Food banks provide a minimum of three days’ emergency food and support to people in poverty or those in need.

Students are also helping Stoke-on-Trent Meals on Wheels to deliver food to ensure this vital service keeps helping those in need.

Sarah Giannnakopoulos from Keele Students’ Union Student Opportunities, Activities and Volunteering said: “Keele student volunteers have done us proud. They have overwhelmed us with their generosity and broad minded approach to this unprecedented situation. The Foodbank collection boxes are filling up constantly and their offers to help transport and deliver donations locally have been phenomenal. It’s also great that a number of students are assisting Stoke-on-Trent Meals on Wheels too.”