The Cyrenians Fareshare depot has surpassed its target of delivering over 1 million meals to charities and community groups across Central and South East Scotland in their 20th year.
Established 50 years ago, Cyrenians aims to tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness. The Edinburgh-based charity established the Fareshare initiative in 1999 and has since redistributed over 450 tonnes of surplus food.
Recent figures show that almost 1 in 10 people experience food insecurity, struggling to feed themselves and maintain a healthy diet. Food wastage, meanwhile, is a huge social and environmental problem – according to Scottish Government figures, in 2013 over 1 million tonnes of food and drink was wasted in Scotland alone.
Cyrenians Depot Service Manager Lynne Collie said, “When the cost of not having access to health and nutritious food is so high, we must do everything we can to ensure that no one goes without.
“The network of charities and community groups that make use of Fareshare deliveries provide dignified access to food-insecure communities across Central and South East Scotland. By expanding our capacity, we’ve been able to reach more people than ever before in our 20th year – getting food to those who need it most and allowing organisations to redirect their savings to other areas of their work.
“The food that we receive at our depot is produce that could not be sold by retailers, often due to packaging errors, or a rebrand. Instead of being sent to landfill, this food is then redistributed by dedicated staff and volunteers to over 130 community food members, ranging from community groups to school holiday clubs.”
To find out more about Cyrenians Fareshare depot, click here.
