Shrewsbury food hub thanks Rotary club for support as it marks fifth birthday

The praise for Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club has come from Shrewsbury Food Hub which was established in April 2016, when a small group of environmentally minded volunteers began working out of the boot of cars in a local car park.

In a letter of thanks to Rotary on behalf of the food hub, board trustee Kate Hudson said: “Your kindness and generosity is enormously appreciated at this very critical time in our growth and allows the food hub to continue having a positive impact on the community.”

She said the food hub was ‘born’ out of a decision to stop good food going to waste and adding to landfill as well as increasing CO2 levels.

Volunteers knew there were people in the community who could use this ‘good surplus food'.

In the first year, the food hub saved 14 tonnes of food.

“Fast forward five years to 2021 and the food hub now has its own van to support the collection and redistribution of food as well as a fully equipped depot to support surplus chilled and frozen food,” Kate said.

“We are powered by over 100 volunteers and in the last 12 months have saved over 140 tonnes of good food from waste – enough for 330,000 meals.

Delighted

“We could never have grown and survived without the local support and funding from groups like Rotary. We are now reaching over 3,000 people a week via our community groups and 10 foodshares.

“We are also raising the awareness of food waste and its drastic effect on the environment.”

She added: “As lockdown eases we would love to welcome Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club members to visit us in the new depot and meet some of the team as well as seeing the hub in action.”

To assist with the growth in use of the food hub and food bank, Rotarians are continuing to make a monthly donation of £1,000.

The Rotary club’s support of both will continue to the end of June, members have decided.

The monthly donation continues to include members’ subscriptions which would have paid for meals if the club was meeting in person.

Rotarian John Yeomans, chair of the Rotary club’s community and vocational committee, said: "Members of the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury Severn are delighted to offer our continued support to the Shrewsbury Food Hub and fully recognise the positive contribution they are making in reducing food waste and helping to feed those most in need in our town.”