Past President Gavin Strachan and Secretary Andrew Argo spend Monday mornings delivering food which supermarkets can’t sell to meal-providing charities under the FareShare scheme.
In Dundee, the surplus food is stored in FareShare’s depot where a new chiller and freezer have been added.
With increased capacity, the project in Dundee can accept more food to benefit more people.
The project in the city supplies more than 120 charities, including holiday hunger schemes, homeless hostels, refuges, family centres and hospices.
In the year to March 2019, FareShare in Dundee shipped 311 tonnes of food, an increase of almost 60% on the previous 12 months.
Without the surplus supermarket food from FareShare, many people using these centres would struggle to receive regular meals.
Each week we help to feed thousands at risk of hunger in our communities, but we know demand for our service is rising. That is why we are grateful for the support of Dundee Rotary Club and dedicated volunteers like Gavin and Andrew giving their time each week..”
Dundee Rotary Club’s involvement in FareShare came about through community Service convener Jim Pickett, a former board member of Transform Community Development in Dundee, which operates FareShare in the city.
He reported FareShare’s need for volunteers to drive its delivery vans, and raised it as a scheme for Dundee Rotary Club to support.
The Dundee club agreed, seeing it as a project to fulfil the Rotary aim of providing a service to the community.
Over the last year FareShare has redistributed food to more than 11,000 charities across the UK and none of it would have been possible without the support of our amazing supporters, our volunteers and food partners. A big thank you to every one of you! #ThankYou pic.twitter.com/u1ABUPTOEQ
— FareShare (@FareShareUK) October 3, 2019
Chris Doig, manager of FareShare in Dundee, said: “We have been working closely with Dundee Rotary Club for a number of years and they are a really valued advocate for our cause.
“Each week we help to feed thousands at risk of hunger in our communities, but we know demand for our service is rising.
“That is why we are grateful for the support of Dundee Rotary Club and dedicated volunteers like Gavin and Andrew giving their time each week.”
Chris called on Rotarians and others to step forward to support FareShare. He added: “Just £1 enables FareShare to provide a meal for a family of four, and a few hours of your time volunteering can make a real difference.”
FareShare does an excellent job in distributing ex-supermarket food. I congratulate Dundee Rotary Club for helping with this initiative, showing they are people of action.”
Dundee Past President Gavin Strachan pointed out how the project abides closely with Rotary’s core values.
He said: “The work done by FareShare is invaluable and is very much appreciated by the recipients. It is unfortunate that in this day there is such a need. The involvement of the Rotary Club of Dundee is another example of vocational work we can offer the community and embraces the objective of service above self.”
Alistair McNair, District Governor of Scotland North, which includes Dundee, praised the partnership working.
He said: “FareShare does an excellent job in distributing ex-supermarket food. I congratulate Dundee Rotary Club for helping with this initiative, showing they are ‘people of action.’
“I would encourage other Rotary clubs to support similar projects to tackle food poverty.”
