FOODBANKS in Wiltshire are to receive a massive boost from Morrisons which has pledged to set aside £10 million of stock nationally to help the charities.

The supermarket will also help during the coronavirus emergency by putting on additional deliveries of extra food produced by Morrisons and distributing more food from its store.

Sarah Vardakis community champion at Morrisons Chippenham said: “As a food maker and shopkeeper we are uniquely placed to help.

“We know food banks are finding life very difficult and running our manufacturing sites for an extra hour each day to help restock them is the right decision at this time.”

Morrisons will also be sending deliveries of ambient food - such as canned goods and pasta to branches in Wiltshire to give to their local food banks.

The Chippenham Foodbank run from the Salvation Army headquarters says it is continuing to give out an unprecedented amount of food. It is handing out as much food in one day as it would usually do in a month.

Major Dawn McGarvey said: “It started with families on low incomes seeing the rest of the country panic buying and realising their own cupboards were rather empty.

“Then came those who were self-isolating and so a delivery service was started. These families were kept in regular contact with to make sure they had everything they needed.

“Then there were single parent families who were told they could not take their children shopping with them.

“There have also been a number of older and vulnerable people using the Foodbank delivery service although after the initial contact we try to pass them on to someone who can keep an eye on them locally.

“We do not want anyone to suffer food poverty or be embarrassed to call us.”

The Salvation Army has launched its own appeal to other supermarkets, wholesalers, philanthropists and the corporate sector to help their biggest ever food donation drive.

The church and charity is seeking bulk donations of non-perishable food to feed those hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

A spokesman said: “While food banks across the UK received a very welcome boost from Morrisons The Salvation Army is warning that this will not be enough to help the many thousands hit hardest by the impact of the pandemic and who are falling in between government support schemes.”