A food waste charity is urging supporters to dig deep as it launches two “ambitious” campaigns to help feed those in need this winter.

With the festive season approaching, FareShare Sussex and Surrey is calling for people to help prevent hunger by donating food items during its Tesco Food Collection, or by making a cash donation through the charity’s Big Give Christmas Challenge appeal.

The charity is aiming to raise £50,000 in just eight days through the Big Give, where all donations made between December 3 and 10 will be doubled.

The fundraising target is up by almost £20,000 on last year, when £31,320 was raised, making it the charity’s most ambitious appeal of its kind yet. Raising £50,000 would help the charity provide 200,000 meals for those experiencing food poverty.

The charity is also setting out to gather 18 tonnes of food in just three days through its Tesco Food Collection, to help feed those in deprived communities over Christmas and during the winter.

From Thursday, November 28 to Saturday, November 30, supporters can donate dry goods and cupboard essentials at eight large Tesco stores in Sussex.

Volunteers will be collecting and packing items at the big Tesco supermarkets in Lewes, Hove, Portslade, Shoreham, Littlehampton, Burgess Hill, Gatwick and Crawley.