THE Tralee Lions Club are hoping for the public’s help as they hold their annual food appeal  this weekend with everything collected going to the Tralee Branch of the St Vincent de Paul.

It’s part of a busy weekend for the Lions Club as they are also holding their annual street collection that same weekend at various points throughout the town.

A few of the local schools will provide their choirs at some of the locations and all proceeds from this go to local families in need this Christmas.

The nationwide food appeal takes place this Friday and Saturday, December 5-6 in Tesco stores from 11am to 7pm.

For the food appeal, people are asked to contribute  items at the collection points in the Manor West and Abbeycourt stores.

Only non-perishable products which are stored at ambient temperature will be taken – no fresh or frozen items.

As the food collection is at Christmas time  some treats and soft drinks will be accepted but the main focus will remain on staples and long life foods like; tea bags/instant coffee sugar; butter; breakfast cereal; soup (tinned or packet); tinned vegetables/fruit/fish/meat; pasta and pasta sauce; rice and rice pudding; jam; soft drinks; sweet treats (biscuits, cakes, selection boxes).

During last year’s collection alone, €138,000 worth of food was collected nationwide by Lions Club.