Shoppers are being asked to help families living on the poverty line.

Customers are being asked to buy one extra item when they do their festive grocery shopping at the Co-op stores in London Road, Brighton, Blatchington Road, Hove, Ham Road, Shoreham and the Meridian Centre, Peacehaven, to help poor families put food on the table this Christmas.

Tinned foods, dried pasta, cooking sauces, tea and coffee, should be put in the FareShare collection points, to be distributed to families in need, women’s refuges and homeless shelters across the area.

FareShare project manager Nathan Au said: “It’s awful to think that any of our neighbours would be going hungry, and while we may feel this issue is especially pertinent at Christmas, it’s a problem that isn’t going to go away after the decorations have come down.

“The people and families we visit are often isolated from the rest of society, feel embarrassed and don’t know where to turn for help.

“Everyone at FareShare is delighted to be working with our local Co-operative Food stores and Co-operative members.

“It’s fantastic that collections will keep going in 2013 so we can continue helping people to put food on the table.”

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