A SUPERMARKET has donated more than 3,000 meals to those in need in the Borders over the festive period.

Aldi paired up its stores with charities, community groups and food banks in the area to collect unsold fresh and chilled food when stores closed their doors early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Among those that benefitted from the donations in the Borders were Westruther Community Hall, FirstLight Trust and Burnfoot Grows Together.

In total 3,378 meals were handed out in the region.

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

Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket also worked in partnership with Company Shop Group to provide around 2,000 meals at its Community Kitchens across the UK in the run up to Christmas.

Liz Fox, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, said: “We are so proud to work with such amazing charity partners throughout the UK and the impact they have cannot be underestimated, especially during the winter months when their services are needed more than ever.

“We are pleased that through our partnership with both Neighbourly and Company Shop we have been able to give back to the communities we serve by providing more donations than ever this Christmas.”

Steve Butterworth, chief executive officer at Neighbourly, added: “We’re pleased to have supported Aldi once again during what is often one of the busiest periods for our charities. Large donations like Aldi’s allow us to provide vital support to communities across the country who would otherwise miss out.”