Food redistribution charity calls for volunteers amid major shortage

FareShare Midlands, the region’s largest food redistribution charity, is urgently calling for volunteers to step up in their mission to tackle food poverty.

Each week, the charity collets and supplies surplus and nutritious food for over 60,000 people through a network of 650 frontline organisations including community centres, breakfast clubs, and homeless shelters.

Volunteers are vital to every part of the operation: picking and packing food, cooking meals in community kitchens, and driving vans to deliver to local partners.

In return, they gain skills, confidence, friendship, exercise, and the knowledge that they are making a meaningful difference.

Over the past year, the charity has saved 5,000 tonnes of good food - the equivalent of 11 million meals - from going to waste, redirecting it to vulnerable families, children, and older people across the Midlands.

With the launch of the Sir Peter Rigby Coronation Food Hub, FareShare Midlands is now operating from a larger facility with the capacity to redistribute significantly more food - particularly fresh produce.

Speaking about the charity, volunteer Sue Pool, said: “The work we do combats food poverty while preventing perfectly good food from going to waste.

“It’s great to know that the time I spend here directly supports families and individuals who need it most.”

Simone Connolly, chief executive of FareShare Midlands, said: “The opening of the Coronation Food Hub has given us vital extra space to fight hunger across the region.

“But with the cost-of-living crisis pushing even more families into hardship, FareShare Midlands urgently needs kind people to step forward. Just a few hours a week can have a huge impact.”

Interested parties can visit the FareShare Midlands website for more information or call 07981 36023