A charity which saves food from going to waste by turning it into meals for vulnerable or disadvantaged people is opening a new branch in Ipswich.
FareShare is searching for charities and community groups in the area, such as homeless hostels, lunch clubs and domestic violence refuges, to receive in-date, surplus food, which has been collected from retailers and manufacturers.
The Cabin Crew Club in Ipswich, which runs out-of-school sessions for children in the town, has been the first to join.
Heather Osborn, club manager, said: “There is too much food waste these days, and as a school club we are very eco-friendly so couldn’t wait to get on board with FareShare.”
Opening this summer in Leslie Road, Ipswich, FareShare East Anglia will be the charity’s 21st UK regional centre.
Chief executive of the charity Lindsay Boswell, said: “We’re tremendously excited about the launch of FareShare East Anglia, but to make it a success, we need get out there and spread the word. If you know of a charity or a community group who is doing great work in the community and could benefit from healthy nutritious surplus food, please do tell them to contact us.
“We’re looking for a brand new team of volunteers to help us. Volunteers are the lifeblood of FareShare - sorting, picking, packing and delivering food to the charities who need it.”
A similar scheme is already up and running in Ipswich - The Teapot Project - and director Mischa Pearson said she was in talks with FareShare and the two would be working side-by-side to combat food waste in the town.
The Teapot Project gains food from Morrisons, Marks & Spencer and Nando’s, with a few more in the pipeline, and ships out around 4,000 meals a month in Ipswich to the YMCA, Salvation Army, children’s hostel group Impact and several churches.
The ‘Teapotters’ are also planning to host weekly sustainable cooking classes from Suffolk New College for members of the public.
Mischa is looking for volunteers to help deliver the meals once a month. Anyone interested should make contact through The Teapot Project Facebook page or on 07905619829.
Any charities or community groups interested in receiving food from FareShare should visit: www.fareshare.org.uk/fareshare-east-anglia; or to find out more about volunteering contact: fseastanglia@fareshare.org.uk
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