King Charles III to donate fridges and freezers to food banks

The donation will see the goods distributed to local charities, food banks and social pantries that have been identified by the Felix Project in London and across the UK by The Trussell Trust, FareShare and British Asian Trust.

The King's first initial donation will see 800 fridges and freezers delivered to the causes between now and spring 2023. 

The monarch's donation comes as part of the £1 million starting fund which also includes a “substantial personal donation” from Charles.

With a grant also coming from The Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund and donations from a range of funders, the Felix Project said.

In recent weeks, food banks and charities have shared that they are experiencing unprecedented but also fewer donations, as the cost-of-living crisis deepens.

In the past years, organisations have found that during the Christmas period food donations increase, but many food banks are forced to turn away food over lack of cost storage. 

But with His Majesty's donation, many hope that the new fridge and freezers will help groups store more food which can be used at another time when donation dips. 

Felix Project chief executive Charlotte Hill said: "Thanks to this incredible donation from his majesty the King, and a range of funders, we will not only be able to freeze and store vast quantities of food, we will be protected when food supplies are low due to seasonal dips, and we can create a long-lasting infrastructure for our community partners that will help people for many years to come.”

Baroness Louise Casey, a trustee of The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund,  said: “This action will mean many more food banks and charities across the UK will be able to store more fresh food and reduce the tragedy of food waste in the winter months ahead.

“This is the right thing to do for those in need, the sustainable environment, and especially at this time of year when so many citizens want to offer their help.”