STAFF at Home Bargains stores around Northern Ireland have been praised for a donation of food to help people in need.
Workers from branches in Belfast, Newtownabbey, Newtownards, Clandeboye and Holywood were involved in the collection which included 200 tins of soup, 200 tins of canned food, 200 tins of beans, 160 packets of rice, 100 packets of noodles, 130 packs of biscuits, 500 rolls of toilet paper, 60 bottles of juice, 60 bags of sugar and large amounts of cereals, tea and coffee.
Gary Donegan, area manager for Home Bargains, said: "In such difficult and challenging times, it is more important than ever that we support those around us, and our local communities.
"We at Home Bargains always do what we can to help others, and the team have shown their support by donating over £1,000 worth of stock for local food banks.
"We hope that this small gesture will help those that are vulnerable, and those families that are most in need".
Trevor Greer, Belfast South Community Resources Development Officer, said the donation would "benefit people in need right across the community".
"It lifts your heart to see this generosity and selfless thought for others and this is what will carry us through this current health crisis," he said.
Sinn Féin councillor and community development worker Ciaran Beattie also praised the "outstanding donation" which will help "people who need it most".
"It is a tremendous act of community solidarity from them and they deserve to be commended for it," he said.
"We will get through this period by standing together and helping each other and today’s donation is another wonderful example of that."
