// Lidl to donate 80,000 face coverings to charities who are in need of it one year after the first lockdown
// Boxes of face coverings are being distributed immediately by Lidl stores to over 800 good causes partnered with them
Lidl is donating over 80,000 face coverings to small charities and community groups around the UK to help protect frontline workers and the people they support from Covid-19.
The donation comes in response to Neighbourly and the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) highlighting the ongoing need for frontline charity workers to have adequate protection, despite encouraging Covid-19 figures being reported.
A year since the first UK-wide lockdown was introduced, many small charities and local causes are needing to stretch limited resources to buy additional PPE so they can continue providing essential support.
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In a recent survey of over 600 frontline workers across Neighbourly’s network of good causes, including food banks, elderly care groups and youth centres, over 87 per cent said they needed PPE including face coverings to help protect staff and volunteers.
Boxes of face coverings are being distributed immediately by Lidl stores to over 800 good causes partnered with them for food surplus donations through Neighbourly, the supermarket’s community investment and engagement partner.
“We are so grateful to the charity staff and volunteers who continue to work extremely hard to provide life-saving support to people across our communities – but they still all need adequate protection from Covid-19,” Lidl head of corporate social responsibility Martina Petrovic said.
“While the steady reductions in infection rates are encouraging, it’s vital that all frontline workers have the face coverings they still urgently need, to minimise the risks to both them and the people they support.”
Lidl worked with Neighbourly since 2017 on its Feed It Back programme, which enables all Lidl stores across England, Scotland and Wales to donate food surplus to local charities tackling food insecurity.
Through Neighbourly, Lidl has already donated more than seven million meals to a wide range of good causes.
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