This page is dedicated to our generous donors, who have continued to provide us with surplus stock for recycling, and without whom our Community Fridge simply could not operate.

The list below includes all  our current donors - the links provided will take you to the relevant website. 

You'll find some interesting historical data about donations to Charnwood CF  below the list. There's also more about each donor's community-facing role to be found in the individual boxes below the statistics table.

Once again, a big ‘Thank You’ to each of you for your time, effort and generosity so far……

...and to the volunteers who collected it all !

Charnwood CF:L Current Donors List

   LIDL, Loughborough:  www.lidl.co.uk

Tesco Express, Loughborough: https://www.tesco.com/store-locator/loughborough/48-56-leicester-rd

Tesco Express, Shepshed: https://www.tesco.com/store-locator/shepshed/50-charnwood-rd

ALDI, Loughborough: https://stores.aldi.co.uk/east-midlands/loughborough/51-belton-road

ALDI, Shepshed: https://stores.aldi.co.uk/east-midlands/shepshed/300-fairway-road-south

Loughborough Students Union (LSU):  https://lsu.co.uk/action

  Waitrose, Mountsorrel:  www.waitrose.com

If you are a small business  or other food retailer in the Charnwood area and would like to donate, please contact Therese on 0735 424 8928, or via our contacts page.

To illustrate our donors' commitment, (and perhaps even add an element of competition!), we published historical donation data for FY2023-24 last year. We've now included full year statistics for FY2024-5 for comparison. 

As you can see from the plots, the pattern of donation rates for FY 2024-25 has changed somewhat as compared to the previous year, with the two major discounters now providing the bulk of our donations, including a whopping 10,500 kg from the 3 ALDI branches we now have in the Loughborough area. This will have been helped by the opening of their new Shepshed store. 

Overall, despite occasional fluctuations, donations do seem to have recovered well, with a reassuring 129% increase in total donation weight.

Well done to all of you....and  keep it coming.....

We hope to follow up with half- year 2025-6 statistics and analysis in October 2025.

To Illustrate the demand for our services, the table and plot below shows the total number of client visits logged quarterly between  March 2023 and March 2025. 

Demand still remains high, although it declined somewhat  after the Dec 2023 peak as the cost of living crisis abated. It now appears to be on the rise again, with the last 2 quarters approaching the Dec 2023 peak. 

Individual Donors Section: Community Support

LIDL, Loughborough

Lidl UK alleviates food poverty and supports various community needs through several initiatives:

·         Food Redistribution: They have partnered with Neighbourly and FoodCloud to create a network of charities and community groups. Lidl stores and warehouses donate surplus food to over 320 organizations, providing meals to those in need.

·         Lidl Community Fund: Launched in 2022, this £500,000 annual fund offers grants to charities working with Lidl's surplus food program. Grants come in two tiers, addressing immediate needs like increased food parcel demand and long-term benefits like improved food storage facilities [Lidl Community Fund].

·         Voucher Donation Fund: Lidl supports local projects aligned with their values by donating vouchers. These vouchers have been used for school programs, community events, and fundraising efforts by hundreds of charities and groups [Lidl Community Works].

Lidl UK's focus on surplus food redistribution and financial support empowers charities to combat food insecurity and invest in long-term solutions, making them a significant contributor to local communities. Their donations to Charnwood CF include frozen food, chilled and cupboard food, toiletries and other household items.

Tesco Superstores & Express, Loughborough & Shepshed

In the UK, Tesco plays a significant role in supporting local communities through various initiatives:

• Financial Grants: Tesco's Community Grants scheme awards millions annually to local good causes chosen by customers in-store. These grants fund projects ranging from school breakfast clubs to equipment for youth groups, addressing needs identified by the community.
• Food Redistribution: Tesco tackles food waste while aiding those in need by partnering with charities like FareShare and OLIO. Over 166 million meals distributed to date, ensuring surplus food reaches people who can't afford it.
• Charitable Partnerships: Tesco collaborates with national charities like Cancer Research UK and food banks, providing support to those facing food insecurity and health challenges.
• Community Champions: Tesco employees dedicated to community outreach, the Community Champions program fosters connections with local organizations and charities, ensuring Tesco's support reaches those who need it most.

Tesco UK acts as a community partner via these schemes, providing financial resources, essential food items, and employee volunteering to make a positive impact on the lives of people in their local areas.

Tesco branches in both Loughborough and Shepshed provide convenient local collection points for food recycling by Charnwood's Community Fridge, and donate to us on a regular basis.

Donations include bread and bread products, flowers, cupboard food and household items. 

ALDI, Loughborough & Shepshed

ALDI UK prioritises help to the communities it serves through several key initiatives:

• Food Donation Program: Partnering with Neighbourly, ALDI has donated over 40 million meals to local charities across the UK. Stores also donate surplus food nearing its sell-by date, including produce, bakery items, and long-life products. Recipients include food banks, soup kitchens, and children's breakfast clubs, reducing food waste and tackling hunger.

• Community Grants: ALDI empowers its employees by allowing them to select charities within their store's area for grants. This localised approach ensures support reaches causes employees have identified as addressing specific needs within their own communities.

• Employee Volunteering:  ALDI encourages employee volunteering to amplify its community impact. Staff are empowered to participate in food bank collections, charity runs, or local clean-up initiatives.

By focusing on food rescue, empowering staff in local donation, and fostering employee volunteering, ALDI UK strives to be a good neighbour, offering surplus food resources, financial support, and where appropriate, volunteer efforts, to make a positive difference in the communities it serves. The Loughborough Belton Road branch regularly donate to Charnwood Community Fridge. Donations include chilled and cupboard food, toiletries, household items and flowers. 

The newly opened Shepshed store has also joined our panel of donors - we wish them every success in their new venture.

Loughborough Students Union

The Loughborough Students' Union (LSU) plays a vital role in supporting the local Loughborough community by harnessing the energy and skills of its student body. Key initiatives:

• LSU Action: This award-winning programme boasts over 750 student volunteers annually, contributing over 10,000 hours to local projects. These range from social support for the elderly to environmental sustainability initiatives. LSU Action connects students with local needs, creating a positive impact within the community.

• Intergenerational Activities: LSU bridges the gap between generations by fostering connections. For example, their program sees students visit elderly residents at care homes, creating a space for shared experiences and fostering social interaction for vulnerable populations.

• Campaign Support: LSU isn't limited to its own core projects. They actively support student-led initiatives that address community needs. This could involve fundraising for local charities or raising awareness for local issues, empowering students to be active community members.

By providing volunteer opportunities, facilitating inter-generational connections, and supporting student-led initiatives, LSU acts as a bridge between the student population and the wider Loughborough community, enriching both sides through active engagement. 

LSU have also recently widened their support programme to include food donations  to Charnwood’s Community Fridge, for which we are grateful. Donations include food essentials, cupboard food and household items. 

Waitrose, Mountsorrel

Waitrose relieves food insecurity and strengthens communities in the UK through a variety of schemes:

• Food Waste Reduction & Redistribution:  Waitrose partners with FareShare, a leading anti-hunger charity.  Surplus food from stores is delivered daily to charities and community groups, providing nutritious meals and reducing food waste.  In 2023 alone, Waitrose diverted 20 million meals worth of food, preventing food waste and CO2.

• Community Matters: This customer-driven initiative allows shoppers to donate green tokens to local good causes chosen by the store.  This program has raised over £10 million for charities, empowering communities to address their specific needs.

• Partner Volunteering: Waitrose encourages employees to volunteer their time with local charities, fostering connections and providing valuable support within communities.

Waitrose's commitment to the community goes beyond donations.  By tackling food waste while supporting charities and employee volunteering, Waitrose plays a significant role in building stronger and more resilient local communities and contributes to our long term goal of net zero by 2050.

Waitrose regularly donates items to Charnwood CF. Donations include freshly prepared  food,  bread and bread products and cupboard food.