A local food charity is appealing for donations of goods for it to redistribute to vulnerable groups as more and more people are forced to self-isolate.
Recycling Lives’ Food Redistribution Centre says it has already seen a reduction in the volume of ambient products coming into its warehouse, for it to get to communities in need during the coronavirus outbreak.
Now it is appealing for any donations of foods like cereals, pasta and tinned goods, that will help the elderly or vulnerable.
The Preston-based Centre takes surplus food from supermarkets, suppliers and manufacturers to redistribute across Lancashire and Cumbria. This normally consists of a wide range of fresh, frozen, chilled and ambient goods.
It provides the goods for community groups and charities to distribute to people in need.
As households are following government guidance around social distancing and self-isolation in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, its bosses say its service is more important than ever and are calling for extra support.
Jeff Green, manager of the Food Redistribution Centre, said: “We are living in an uncertain time, as everyone does their best to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“At the Centre we’re working to ensure it’s ‘business as usual’, as we get food out to vulnerable groups which include food banks and ‘meals on wheels’ services for the elderly – helping some of those most at risk at this time. We’re working closely with our Community Food Members to ensure they’re able to adapt in this unprecedented situation, including helping them to provide more food parcels.
“To do this, we need to be getting the right kinds of goods out to people so we’re appealing to any businesses or individuals to do all they can to support us with donations of ambient goods.
“Our staff and volunteers are maintaining the strictest standards for health and hygiene but it’s very, very important we keep going.
The Food Redistribution Centre is part of the national FareShare network, running the Centre on behalf of the national food redistribution charity. It takes deliveries of hundreds of tonnes of goods every year, to provide more than one million meals every year to 173 groups across the North West.
Anyone able to make a donation is asked to contact Katie Upton: 07387 015426 or email: Jeff.Green@RecyclingLives.org
