Food charity links with Tescos to ensure people don’t go without
People in Sussex who are unable to feed their families or heat their homes are receiving free supplies from Tesco stores thanks to the tireless work of UKHarvest.
UKHarvest is a not-for-profit food rescue operation and education charity, aiming to eliminate hunger and food waste by redistributing quality surplus food.
The charity receives food from Tesco’s Community Food Connection scheme, which is run in partnership with food redistribution charity FareShare.
The Community Food Connection scheme ensures that surplus food from Tesco is given to charities and community groups, whose volunteer members then distribute it to the public.
Across the UK, the Community Food Connection scheme redistributes 2 million meals every month.
Simon Thresher, Operations and Compliance Manager at UKHarvest, said: “The main food items received from Tesco via FareShare Go include bakery items, salad, fruit and vegetables.
“These provide support not only to UKHarvest’s 16 Community Food Hubs operated throughout West Sussex, but also support wider projects across Southern England and our Nourish Hub in London. The food we receive helps us in our mission to prevent food waste and food insecurity,”
People on tight budgets do not need a referral to visit UKHarvest. It never turns anyone away, and people are not limited on the amount of times they can return.
Alice, a Community Food Hub user at East Wittering, said: “At the moment, we've struggled over winter because the cost of living's really hit me quite hard. Me and my partner are both out of work for medical reasons, so we haven't had the money to even put on our electric and our heating. UKHarvest has helped a lot. It means I can take some money off the food bill and have some heating on.”
Yasmin, also a Community Food Hub user at East Wittering, added: “For me, I'm my fiancée's full-time carer. Neither of us can work. Again, the cost of living has hit us quite hard, so from UKHarvest we’re able to get food that we would have to buy off our shopping list, and we’re getting a lot healthier food from the Community Food Hub than in our regular shop, so it helps with our health as well.”
Claire De Silva, Tesco Head of Community, said: “Working with community groups such as UKHarvest to help them get the food they need is such an important service for us to be able to provide. The dedication they have to their community is amazing, and we are pleased to do what we can to support.
“We firmly believe no good food should go to waste, which is why we began our Community Food Connection scheme. It enables us to ensure our surplus food is put to good use in communities.”
FareShare is the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste. Two-thirds of the organisations it provides food to support children and families.
Katie Sadler, Head of FareShare Go, said: “The food that Tesco redistributes through FareShare makes a huge difference to people facing food insecurity across the UK. “We work with thousands of charities and community groups providing essential support to their communities, and receiving a steady stream of food helps them to feed the people who need it most.”
Anyone able to make a donation to UKHarvest can go online at www.ukharvest.org.uk/support-donate
Charities and community groups that could benefit from the support of the Community Food Connection scheme can find more information at https://fareshare.org.uk/getting-food/
Alice and Yasmin at East Wittering Community Food Hub collecting essential food for their households
