Fighting The Good Fight Adam Walsh visits the York based charities run by
volunteers who battle against food waste in order to feed those who need it mos
York is one of England’s biggest tourist attractions, a city with a vast and fascinating history rich in beautiful architecture. However, we have a problem with homelessness, a problem with pollution and a problem with food waste. Across the UK roughly three million tonnes of food is sent to a landfill each year despite still being perfectly edible, and York is no better. This has to stop. Across York there are people trying to fight this problem by redistributing food throughout the city to help ensure that it doesn’t go to waste and that people don’t go hungry. This is essential and time consuming work. The network of volunteers who make this possible are incredibly important for the people in need around the city. These groups work hard, but need help. In the words of Ruth Jennaway from Edible York: “It’s worth getting the message out.”
4print Yorkie Friday.indd 14
These groups need to get information out to make the system function. The challenge for them is that word of mouth is often the only way for people to find out where and when different food kitchens and community schemes are operating.
“We all work full time, there are other commitments with kids” In just 18 months, Hoping York Kitchen has been able to build a network that reaches across the entire city. They set up shop, so to speak, in King’s square every Wednesday and Sunday. People can turn up and get a hot meal and drink, some conversation and as much food as they need to take away with them. Overcoming this challenge is the real task alongside connecting with businesses that
can provide the food. Hoping York Kitchen has been able to connect with the head offices of Greggs and Co-op in addition to receiving donations constantly from the people of York. These come in the form of money, food and clothes. It has been no small task either, the level of commitment from the core set of volunteers for Hoping York Kitchen is extraordinary. Most of the managing team are in full time employment and have children as well; they simply find the time to become this essential lifeline to so many people around York. When I visited the kitchen to see it in action, there was a real sense of community as all the volunteers got set up and got going and plenty of visitors helped as well. While there was some ‑ not much ‑ food waste at the end, to me the most important thing was the laughter and the jovial shouts from people being people.
‑
‑
01/02/2019 09:42:56
