SUPERMARKET giant Aldi supported local charities, community groups and food banks in the Scottish Borders on Christmas Eve by donating 1,147 meals to those in need.

Working with Neighbourly, Aldi paired up its stores with local charity partners in the area to collect unsold fresh and chilled food when stores closed early on December 24, with stores repeating the initiative on Hogmanay.

To further support local communities this year, Aldi’s Emergency Winter Foodbank Fund saw the supermarket also commit to donating £250,000 to charitable organisations throughout the winter season.

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Both the festive food donations and fund are part of Aldi’s successful partnership with Neighbourly, a community giving platform that links businesses to charitable organisations.

All of Aldi’s 980 UK stores donate surplus food to good causes, all year round, with over 27 million meals donated to good causes since its partnership with Neighbourly began back in 2019.

Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director at Aldi UK, said: “We are incredibly proud to have supported so many amazing charities and community groups in The Scottish Borders this Christmas, helping them to provide warm and healthy festive meals to those in need.

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“We know that the festive period will have been a particularly challenging time for so many this year which is why we also launched our Emergency Foodbank Fund – allowing us to support even more organisations at a time of heightened demand.”

Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “Christmas is always a busy time for charities and food banks, but this year was, without doubt, one of the busiest.

“The donations from Aldi are vital for so many people and we are really pleased to be working together to help those in need again this year.”