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Volunteers giving out unsold supermarket food at community centre

News | Alexia Conrath | Published: 16:37, Tuesday December 10th, 2019.
Last updated: 16:37, Tuesday December 10th, 2019
Secretary Tammy Nelder, caretaker Catherine Grant and Chair Pam Nelder before a food distribution

Unsold food from supermarkets is being handed out by volunteers at Van Community centre in Caerphilly town.

Secretary Tammy Nelder, chair Pam Nelder and caretaker Catherine Grant collect the food from supermarkets as soon as they receive a notification on FareShare – an app that connects businesses and charities.

They have been running the scheme since 2017.

The volunteers bring the food to the community centre late at night and use Facebook to let people know that the food will be ready to collect the next day.

The three women collect food from the Tesco and Asda stores in Caerphilly, as well as the Waitrose store in Pontprennau.

Food that has been collected by volunteers

Since 2017, the volunteers have collected more than 3,500kg of food – which is roughly around 8,300 meals.

On average, between ten and 20 people take food from the community centre each day.

Tammy Nelder, who works three days a week as an after school manager, said: “We’re only there just to help people who need the help. We don’t judge, we don’t discriminate, they literally come in, they take what they need and they leave. We don’t ask them anything.”

The volunteers have collected food every week this year.

To volunteer with food collection or for more information, visit Van Community Centre’s Facebook page or email vancommunity@hotmail.com

Joanne Burgess
Joanne Burgess

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