Since opening its doors in July, the team in Tesco Fermoy has been busy supporting the charities and community organisations that matter most to local people. Reflecting on the journey so far, Store Manager Damien Geraghty said, “Tesco believes in giving back to the community. It’s been a busy but exciting few months getting to know everyone and becoming part of the fabric of this wonderful, vibrant town. We’ve been truly welcomed here in Fermoy, and it’s important that we give back in all the ways we can.”
Funding local projects
Through the Tesco Community Fund, customers have helped to directly support local groups by voting with blue tokens at the tills. The Tesco Community Fund provides €1,500 in funding to local community organisations every three months. The first recipients, Fermoy Community Centre, Fermoy Men’s Choir, and Fermoy Swimming Club, were all nominated by the community, ensuring the support goes where it’s needed most.
The funding they have received will go towards providing swimming lessons for Fermoy Swimming Club’s youth members, fixing a leaking roof at the Fermoy Community Centre and providing new waistcoats for all members of the Fermoy Men’s Choir. If you know a local group that would like to get involved in the Fund, you can apply online through Tesco.ie
Championing children’s health through primary schools
Tesco Fermoy has partnered with Scoil Iosaf Naofa, a local DEIS primary school, for its Stronger Starts Food programme. Every week, 20 children in the school receive free bags of healthy fresh fruit & vegetables to take home for use in meals and snacks, helping to nourish young learners.
The store is also delighted to have brought Stronger Starts Cooks to Gaelscoil de hÍde, a free, hands-on educational programme that teaches primary students about food, nutrition, and sustainability. Pupils in 4th to 6th class learn to prepare and cook a nutritious hot meal from scratch, learning essential cooking skills like chopping and sautéing. Teachers are supported with lesson plans and materials to integrate the workshop into their broader curriculum.
Helping those who need it most through food donations
Working with FoodCloud, and over 350 local charitable groups, Tesco redistributes perfectly edible surplus food from its stores at the end of each day to families in need in our communities. Fermoy Meals on Wheels, CDYS Fermoy and Olio all receive surplus food donations from the Fermoy store on a weekly basis, helping them to make meals, provide food parcels and much more.
Tesco is also delighted to have supported the Fermoy Christmas lights this festive season. And watch out in store in December for our annul Stronger Starts Food Collection!
