MALMESBURY charity HEALS is launching a new initiative aimed at helping people facing rising food costs while ensuring surplus produce does not go to waste.
The charity’s first Community Harvest Table will take place in the Old School Room at Malmesbury Town Hall on Saturday, September 19, from 10am until lunchtime.
Residents, gardeners and growers are being invited to donate spare fruit, vegetables and eggs, while home bakers and preserve makers are also being encouraged to contribute labelled cakes, pies, jams and chutneys.
Donations can be dropped off at Malmesbury Town Hall between 4pm and 6pm on Friday, September 18, or brought to the Old School Room between 9am and 10am on the day of the event.
HEALS already runs a community fridge, freezer and dry-goods shelves at the town hall.
The service redistributes food collected from Malmesbury’s two Co-op stores and Waitrose which would otherwise be thrown away.
The fridge is open to all and is restocked daily by volunteers.
Cllr Gavin Grant, chair of trustees at HEALS, said the Harvest Table would give more people a chance to help their neighbours.
He said: “We know food prices have rocketed over the last couple of years.
"So we have increased the number of collections from local supermarkets by our HEALS community fridge team volunteers and all that food is being used on a daily basis.
“The Community Harvest Table is an opportunity to widen the circle of those who want to help others by donating some of the food they grow or the delicious products they make from it.”
The charity is particularly appealing to local gardening clubs, allotment holders and people with productive gardens to share any seasonal surplus.
Nick Coppin, who leads the 20-strong community fridge volunteer team, is also seeking more drivers and volunteers to help increase supermarket collections, particularly during evenings and weekends.
He said the fridge helped tackle both food poverty and food waste, adding that more than a tonne of good food is redistributed in Malmesbury each month rather than going to landfill.
People interested in volunteering can email volunteer@healsmalmesbury.org.uk
HEALS says volunteers are central to running its projects, including the Community Fridge and Community Wardrobe.
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