22 Apr SWAP FOOD WASTE TO HELP ESSEX FOOD BANKS, CHARITY ASKS
A staggering 9.52 million tonnes of food is wasted every year in the UK,1 meanwhile more than 3.5 million people are seeking support from food banks.2 To mark Stop Food Waste Day on 27th April, Essex based charity BanktheFood has launched #WasteNot, a campaign asking shoppers to reduce food waste by swapping an item from their weekly shop and donating it to their community food bank.
Food banks are a lifeline for those in crisis, but often they are inundated with one type of item while lacking other essentials. Imagine 1000 tins of baked beans and no toilet roll!
BanktheFood has launched a revolutionary free app that sends shoppers a ‘ping’ and a list of urgently needed items from their local food bank at the most crucial time – when they arrive at the supermarket. Shoppers can then add an item to their shop and donate it at the local donation station.
Sally Gunnell OBE supports the app: “No one should go hungry. With so many families in our communities facing food insecurity, I wanted to share a brilliant app with you from the charity @BanktheFood. Made in Essex, just like me, it’s a simple but clever way to make sure that generous food bank donations are targeted to provide the most effective support. Check it out, download the free app and if you are in a position to do so, please get on board. We all have a part to play, and together we can make a difference.”
Emma Spring, BanktheFood co-founder, explains: “It’s such a simple way to genuinely help the people around you who are struggling and who need help now more than ever. The app means people using food banks get a balance of what they need. It would be great if everyone donated just one thing. Each donation will be putting food on someone’s table, possibly the same day.”
The BanktheFood app, which has been running since 2021, was initially trialled by Southend Food Bank and is now helping food banks all over the country get the right balance of supplies.
Natasha Copus, Southend Food Bank Manager, explains: “One of the things that people say is that they are normally reminded about the food bank when they see our collection points after they have already paid when it’s too late. Having a reminder ping on your phone before you start shopping is brilliant.”
Take part in #WasteNot, download the free BanktheFood app, find your local food bank and help get the goods they need. Follow BanktheFood on Facebook @bankthefood or Twitter @BanktheFoodUK
