ALDI stores across the city are donating surplus food to York-based charities as part of a trial to help support vulnerable people.

Each store will focus on giving its stock to specific charity working in a similar area, with the store on Fulford Road donating to Peasholme Resettlement Centre, which helps homeless people on the path to independent living, The Real Junk Food Project’s pay-as-you-feel Planet Food café and Clementhorpe Community Association.

Aldi on Water Lane, Clifton, will be donating to Choose 2 Youth, which works with young people and adults with disabilities, and drug addiction treatment centre Changing Lives.

The Aldi on Kathryn Avenue in Huntington will reach out to groups including Huntington Primary School, Hoping York, and Tang Hall Community Centre.

Meanwhile, further afield, the Aldi store in Skelton, is also taking part, supporting Footprints In The Community’s efforts to support those living in poverty and isolation as well as Whish, a group that helps children with hidden impairments.

These new partnerships are part of a trial between the supermarket and a community engagement social platform, entitled Neighbourly.

So far, Aldi has paired up six stores in Yorkshire with local causes that are now collecting surplus food up to five days every week.

Each store is donating perishable items such as fresh fruit and veg, chilled products such as yoghurt and milk, and baked goods.

The trial, which began in January, will continue until Spring, and if successful will be rolled out across Aldi’s entire store estate.