A CHARITY which redistributes good quality surplus food has launched a new service in North West Dumfries.
FareShare is set to serve the communities of Lochside, Lincluden, Sandside and Summerhill from a new base at Summerhill Community Centre.
A partnership which includes Nithsdale Health and Social Care, the third sector, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the private sector has come together to make this a reality.
Tina Gibson, Public Health Practitioner from Nithsdale Health and Social Care, said: “We’re delighted that this new food distribution service is coming to North West Dumfries, and that Summerhill Community Centre will serve as its base.
“We’ve already seen through the work of the community centre staff and volunteers that there is a demand for this sort of service, which will make good food available for food-related activities such as lunch and grub clubs as well as providing quality food to individuals who need it.
“Four local communities have now signed agreements with FareShare to access the service.
“We will continue to provide support to FareShare and the communities in Northwest Dumfries.
“We are confident that this new service will make a positive difference to people who might otherwise find it difficult to obtain good, nutritious food for themselves and their families.”
Good quality surplus food will be delivered to Summerhill Community Centre for distribution weekly.
The FareShare van arrived with its first delivery on Tuesday morning.
Community centre manager Anne Marie Coulter said: “There’s no doubt that there’s a need for this kind of support within local communities, so I’m extremely pleased that Summerhill Community Centre is able to serve as a base for this new service.
“It was terrific to welcome the first FareShare delivery today. We look forward to seeing weekly deliveries, and expect this service to play an important role across all four communities.”
FareShare is a charity aimed at relieving food poverty and reducing food waste in the UK. It does this by rescuing good quality surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste and sending it to almost 10,000 charity and community groups across the United Kingdom.
The charity notes that data shows one in eight people in the UK currently struggle to afford to eat, but at least 270,000 tonnes of food is wasted each year in the UK – equivalent to 642 million meals.
A FareShare spokesman said: “We access good quality, in date food which has become surplus for reasons which can include labelling errors, over ordering and broken packaging, and which would otherwise go to waste, anaerobic digestion or animal feed.
“Through four regional centres in Scotland, FareShare last year provided food to 438 charities and community groups – and we’re delighted to now be delivering that support to communities in North West Dumfries.”
Nithsdale Health and Social Care is part of Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, and its General Manager of Community Health and Social Care Graham Abrines said: “Access to good quality food is fundamental to everyone’s health and wellbeing. We’re very happy to be backing this initiative, which supports the objectives of Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership.”
Any individuals or groups looking to access the FareShare service are directed to contact Anne Marie Coulter on 07743924609 or 01387 247344 or call into Summerhill Community Centre.
To find out more about FareShare, visit https://fareshare.org.uk/
