How this all started

At the start of the first lockdown we were very aware that people were stuck at home and could not get basic groceries, either due to not getting out or from shortages. We had access to a catering supply company from running a pub a couple of years previously. We started taking orders around the village and surrounding area. It soon took off and we spent every day either collating orders, placing them or delivering. We were able to get a lifeline out there to many people and also got to know those who were in need of help.

During the second lockdown we started to collect waste food each day from the local supermarket to supply a community scheme that were cooking meals for the needy. The food that we collected was used as ingredients in some of the meals but there were also items that were not able to be used. Cakes, crisps, fruit yoghurts, ready meals and similar were causing a dilemma as we did not want to dispose of them. I then started to make up food packages to give to people that I had met from delivering the food orders. Once the meal service stopped after the lockdown we continued to collect the food and distribute amongst the people that we had been supporting. Some were young families, some had lost their jobs and others were elderly but were all were feeling the pinch one way or another. We were able to help with ready made sandwiches and cakes to support the foreign lorry drivers stranded here just before Christmas 2020. We also sent boxes of cake and bread for their 'grab a snack' toast to the local fire and ambulance stations.

Knowing people and their needs has meant that we know just who needs a bag of gluten free bakery items and who would really use vegetarian meals and which families would love some fruits and kiddie's yoghurts. We helped with a huge supply of foods and ready meals for the freezer to support a family with their young daughter in and out of a London hospital. We came to hear about a family just coping that unexpectedly had to care for an elderly relative in their home. They had no spare food for him until his finances could be sorted out. We were able to put several boxes of meals, bread, cakes and vegetables together for them. Whilst in lockdown I became aware of a family that felt trapped on a remote traveller's site due to their menfolk working away as the rule came in force. Every few days we were able to take boxes of food out to them for which they were very grateful. Mum made plenty of meals for the children and grandchildren being creative with the items that I took her. She was my inspiration for encouraging people to use an excess of any one ingredient in ways that are not immediately obvious. Good old fashioned thrift!

When we received a large amount of over ripe fruit we made jams and marmalades. These finished products were then shared amongst our communities and with those that had been volunteering. Lots of milk turned into rice puddings which was also distributed and loved by all! We decided not to keep making jam for people so turned lots of raspberries into cordial which again was loved by everyone, especially the children. We had some mozzarella cheese and made up mini topped focaccia and share those to local people. Herbs were dried or regrown from the cuttings and lots of fruit dried or baked into cakes. The recipients of home made raisins from the unwanted grapes were amazed at how tasty they were.

These are just a few examples of how we have used the donated food to help, very little was actually wasted out of each collection. Just sometimes the odd wilted salad ended up in the compost. With an average of 1 bin bag of food per day over the course of a year adds up to at least 365 sacks of food saved from landfill and the same amount of food eaten by people needing a bit of help.

Since the end of the lockdown the community project no longer needs the food collecting for cooking or distributing. The needs are still there so we will ourselves be applying to the local supermarket to continue this fascinating and rewarding redirection and 'upcycling' of food that would otherwise go to landfill. In the mean time we gained so much pleasure and good feedback about the creative uses of food that we will share ideas, tips and recipes on our page and blog. We hope that you will enjoy testing these out for yourselves. We need to fight waste and every little bit helps. It is actually surprising how few ingredients that you need sometimes to place a hearty mean on the table and use up left overs or that reduced item that you picked up on your shop.