Telford project to reduce food waste pleads for delivery drivers
A community service which supplies food at discount rates to reduce landfill waste is appealing for more volunteers to make deliveries.
Leegate Community Food Project was originally set up when the coronavirus pandemic struck to ensure residents in the Hadley and Leegomery areas had access to adequate supplies.
Since then the Leegate Community Centre, in Leegate Avenue, where the project is based has been taken over by new operators and the project has expanded to meet the needs of the whole borough.
Each week surplus food is collected from restaurants, supermarkets and food manufacturing businesses with additional stock purchased to top up the boxes. Items are then sorted and a team of volunteers prepare boxes which are delivered within a five-mile radius.
The boxes cost £10 plus £3.25 delivery charge towards the overheads of the charitable project including electricity, insurance, rent and vehicle costs. Any profit is reinvested into the expansion of the project so it can benefit to more residents.
The project said the estimated retail value of each box is between £30-£40 at standard store prices.
The food boxes contain fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, cakes and cupboard items and is delivered with an additional bag full of frozen food including meat and fish.
Boxes can be ordered via the groups Taste Not Waste by the Leegate Community Food Project on social media network Facebook with instructions about how to order.
The group is appealing for more volunteer drivers to cover evening store collections. It will suit someone with their own vehicle who can help twice a week for around two hours.
All volunteers receive a box in return.
The project stated: "We are in desperate need of more support with our increasing collections as the project expands and in order to continue our work with other organisations"
Anyone who can help should email via leegate@mail.com.
