MIRO ‘bags’ £4000 from Tesco charity fundraiser

A local marine rescue group has been kitted out in brand new safety gear thanks to the Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme.

Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation (MIRO) collected £4000 from their local supermarket after customers chose them to receive donations from plastic shopping bags.

As part of a programme to upgrade and renew essential crew lifesaving equipment, MIRO has used the community grant from Tesco to purchase 10 new drysuits.

John Low, chairman of MIRO said: “We are very grateful to Tesco for giving us the opportunity to raise funds for lifesaving equipment as it is essential to enable our crew to respond to emergency call outs. Our senior coxswain has reported that use of these new drysuits with integral boots reduces the time it takes for crew members to get kitted up when responding to a call out, which is excellent as every second counts when responding to an emergency situation.

“MIRO was called out 14 times in 2019 and had the first call out of 2020 on 4 January. Our rescues have included assisting sailors, swimmers, kayakers and animals in difficulty.”

Voting ran in stores throughout May and June with customers choosing which local project they would like to get the top award using a token given to them at the checkout. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups each time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions are awarded funding.

Helping local people

Tony McElroy, Tesco’s Head of Communications in Scotland, said: “Bags of Help contributes funds to community projects up and down the country and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers voting in their local stores. We look forward to seeing even more projects come to life.”

Bags of Help is run in partnership with environmental charity Greenspace Scotland, and sees grants awarded to thousands of local community projects every year.

Emma Halliday, Community Enabler Coordinator at Greenspace Scotland, said: “At all stages, Bags of Help involves local people – as awardees, as Tesco colleagues in decision-making and as voting customers. The many funded projects have connected people, encouraged volunteers and allowed groups to do things for themselves and make positive contributions where they live. All adding up to an amazing legacy across Scotland.”

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp.

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