FoodStock 2020 Launched by Bristol Charity Bristol-based food charity, FareShare South West, has announced FoodStock 2020: a campaign with the aim to build a stockpile of emergency food with the infrastructure to deliver it to critical frontline organisations through a difficult winter. The FoodStock 2020 operation, which will source food from across the food industry at scale, aims to build a stockpile big enough to distribute food for 1 million meals in just 3 months and will be housed at the charity’s secondary warehouse near Ashton Gate Stadium – formerly used by Dreams Beds. Julian Mines, CEO of FareShare South West says: “The move now to amass a stock of ambient food and begin planning the logistics of redistributing is essential to make sure our city and wider region does not go hungry in the difficult winter months ahead. We’re not waiting until a full lockdown hits or until demand spikes to astronomical levels. We’re preparing now. Whilst we hope the economic fallout and impact of a second wave are not as catastrophic as some predict, we’d be naïve not to prepare for that. Expanding by 5 times our capacity back in March 2020 to meet sudden need was only possible thanks to temporary infrastructure afforded by a number of organisations, funders offering temporary support and by financial donations from the public.
That’s now ended, and we need to ensure we have the funds, infrastructure and resource this time round to keep people fed in the winter ahead. This time around we must be more strategic, coordinated and targeted to make sure those in the most critical situations are prioritised, and we want to go further in serving and supporting frontline groups. We’re relying on the power of Bristol – a city brimming with care and compassion – to come together to help us get this centralised emergency solution to the food insecurity we anticipate, off the ground. To confirm, we are not looking for donations of food but instead for funding from local businesses, public donations where people feel able, and even volunteering – including to help us operate a food parcel packing hub, located on the mezzanine level of our secondary warehouse. This space will centralise food parcel packing for the city and wider region and allow our food to go to organisations and initiatives of all sizes.” The FareShare South West team are encouraging the Bristol public to keep an eye on their social media platforms so as not to miss upcoming announcements or calls for support as they respond to the emerging winter crisis. To donate to FoodStock 2020, visit: www.faresharesouthwest.org.uk/foodstock-2020 To learn more about FoodStock 2020, donate the campaign and find out how you can help visit: www.faresharesouthwest.org.uk/foodstock-2020
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