Volunteers needed for food redistribution in Deptford

Tins of food. Pic Vicky Lo-Chi Tseng

FareShare, the biggest food redistribution charity in the UK, is urgently calling for more volunteers to join their warehouse in Deptford, Southeast London.

FareShare is a UK-wide charity that fights hunger and food waste by working directly with the retail industry. Its main mission is redistributing surplus food to frontline charity organisations and vulnerable people.

The organisation in its London centre now supports almost 280 local charities and community groups throughout the capital, including homeless hostels, domestic violence refuges and children’s breakfast and holiday clubs.

Rachel Ledwith, the Development Manager for FareShare London, said the biggest dilemma the charity is facing now is “the lack of volunteers.”

She added: “We have many passionate volunteers and they are very helpful, but with our rapid growth last year, we really need to double the number.”

Pic Vicky Lo-Chi Tseng

To sustain a quality “Food in, Food out” routine and to feed more than 20,000 Londoners in need per week, the FareShare Deptford warehouse requires more than 30 volunteers per day.

Last year, the whole organisation experienced rapid growth. According to latest statistics, FareShare received 12,336 tons of food, redistributed them to 5,589 organisations in need, and provided 25.8 million meals to vulnerable people. The estimated value of the food given to charities is £22.2 million.

Erica Ross from Disabled People’s Contact Centre, Deptford, said:“Having a relationship with FareShare has in the first year reduced our food bill by 30%. As a charity, this has enabled us to put more money towards the cost of day trips, entertainment and activities.”

Last week Waitrose announced a new trial with FareShare FoodCloud app, to reduce its in-store food waste.

This award-winning app enables retailers and charities to redistribute surplus food quickly and efficiently. A partnership with Tesco launched during the past year has resulted in over five million meals being served to more than 3,300 community groups and charities.

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