A DESPERATE appeal for volunteers has been launched by a new Worcester charity which turns food waste into community meals.
FoodCycle opened its doors in the city earlier this month in a bid to tackle food poverty, loneliness and food waste all at the same time.
But in order to do this they need volunteers to help provide free weekly lunches for regular guests at the Tolladine Hun community centre.
Meals are served every Thursday at 5.30pm.
It is the first FoodCycle community dining project to launch in Worcester, and the 12th in the West Midlands, as the charity expands to help nourish communities across England and Wales.
Volunteers get to be part of the ‘FoodCycle magic’ – transforming surplus food that would otherwise go to waste into delicious and nutritious vegetarian dishes, such as soups and salads, pasta bakes, curries, stews, pastries and fruit crumble.
Now in its 15th year, FoodCycle runs 96 community meals nationally, offering good food and company to guests from all backgrounds. Everyone is welcome to turn up to eat for free, with regular guests including low-income families, elderly people, refugees, people who live alone, may be homeless, or simply want to get more involved in their community.
Across the West Midlands, FoodCycle volunteers have so far served more than 10,000 meals this year, with existing community meals in Birmingham, Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton, and Coventry saving more than 19 tonnes of surplus food from being wasted.
FoodCycle West Midlands regional manager Pablo Allan said: “We’re excited to be opening our new FoodCycle community dining project in Worcester. This is a vibrant city where there is a high demand for free food provision for local people, particularly as the high cost of living continues to affect everything from fuel bills to food costs.
“Each week we provide a safe, welcoming space for anyone who wants to come along to enjoy great food and conversation with us for free. Our vital community service runs on the kindness of volunteers, so we’re asking local people willing to give up a few hours a month to get in touch with us.”
Volunteers can sign up via https://volunteer.foodcycle.org.uk/westmidlands
