Sainsbury's has donated dozens of frozen and tinned food items to StreetSmart 2009, which is again backed by the Yorkshire Evening Post.


The fruit, eggs, milk, cereal, chocolate, meat, pulses and biscuits will be split between the campaign's five official charities, which together run essential services for the homeless living in and around Leeds.

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FareShare Leeds – which aims to keep "fit for purpose" food from landfill – has pledged to deliver the food to Caring For Life in Cookridge; St George's Crypt, St Anne's Community Services, Teen Challenge and the Simon Community in Leeds.

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Esther Smith, of Caring For Life, which provides support and housing for dozens of vulnerable people, said that the food parcel had arrived at a perfect time.

"At Christmas we give every one of our clients a hamper of food including special festive treats so it is really exciting to receive this donation," she said.

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Sainsbury's has a 'no landfill' policy when it comes to disposing of food, said Tom Thompson, environmental and food safety manager at Wincanton Sainsbury's distribution depot in Sherburn In Elmet.

Items that can still be eaten but not sold in store – maybe where outer packaging is damaged – are donated.

Broken food jars, waste from cafes and items that are past the sell-by-date are anaerobically composted.

Mr Thompson said that the StreetSmart donation was the first of many: "We like to support community groups for the long term."

"We plan to deliver more trollies of food items to the charities in a few weeks."

StreetSmart Leeds raises funds for the homeless with the help of restaurants and their customers.

Last year £13,000 was collected by people eating out at pariticipating
eateries, a total that the 13 restaurants on board for 2009 now hope to smash.

StreetSmart runs from November 1 until December 31. It asks diners eating out at a participating restaurant to donate £1 at the end of their meal.

* Restaurateurs interested in joining can call Leeds campaign manager Rachel McAlley on 07963 577034 or email: info@rachelmcalleymarketing.com

* This year participating StreetSmart Leeds restaurants are: The Olive Tree at Rodley, Far Headingley and Chapel Allerton; Salvo's and Salvo's Salumeria in Headingley; Gusto, Cookridge; Casa Mia Grande, Chapel Allerton; Fourth Floor at Harvey Nichols; The Living Room; Prohibition; Chino Latino; Casa Mia Millennium; Toast and Kendalls Bistro, which are all in Leeds city centre.