FareShare South West, the South West’s largest food redistribution charity, has announced the launch of FoodStock 2021: an emergency campaign for the winter that will build a stockpile of ambient food plus the funds and infrastructure to deliver it through a challenging winter.
In recent weeks, the charity has seen a 30% reduction in its food supply as a result of the ongoing HGV driver crisis, leading to the decision to launch the campaign and operation earlier than planned.
Julian Mines, FareShare South West CEO says, “We knew that this winter would present challenges, with the rising cost of living, the complete end to furlough, and with the reduction in universal credit. That is why we planned to run FoodStock 2021, boosting levels of food reaching those most in need during the winter months. However, with the additional challenges created by the HGV driver crisis, and with our expectation that this disruption will remain for some time, it is clear that the scale of our FoodStock 2021 operation will need to be more significant, and that we may need more support from the people of Bristol than we had previously expected.
The emergency food that will be amassed as part of the operation, along with the increased funds we hope the campaign will generate, will mean we can both bolster deliveries to organisations working with the most vulnerable over winter, as well as being confident in our abilities to continue our regular operations, ensuring frontline settings receive food from us consistently, which they can then provide to their end users.”
Over the next two months, FareShare South West will source ambient food at scale from across the food industry, with the aim of redistributing enough food for one million meals between now and January next year.
Julian continues: “The disruption we’re experiencing sadly means increased costs to our charity, including organising last minute collections and deliveries, overhauling systems at short notice and the costs associated with getting increasing amounts of short-dated food through our warehouses and to partners quickly, in order to avoid waste.
We have an exciting fundraising opportunity, where donations from the public will be matched in late November, but for now we’re encouraging individuals and local businesses to consider fundraising ideas, volunteering with us, as well as simply making sure everybody they know, knows that FoodStock 2021 is happening this year.
We are yet again relying on the power of Bristol – a city brimming with care and compassion – to come together to help us ensure those most in need don’t go without this winter.”
The FoodStock 2021 hub will be based out of FareShare South West’s temporary warehouse in Ashton Gate. Here, the stockpiled ambient food will be stored and the infrastructure to deliver it will be based. Deliveries are expected to start as early as November 1st.
FareShare South West are keen to hear from those who can help with FoodStock 2021. Contact details are as follows:
- To discuss donating food at scale or haulage support, click here.
- If you’re a business looking to establish a partnership or fundraise to support FoodStock 2021, click here.
- If you’re a member of the public looking for more information or to donate, click here.