A COMMUNITY centre is helping to feed vulnerable Rugbeians by collecting unsold food from a nearby supermarket.
The Benn Partnership Centre (BPC) collects donations such as bread and pastries every Thursday from Tesco on Redpoll Road as part of the supermarket’s food surplus scheme, Community Food Connection.
The scheme is run in conjunction with food charity FareShare, using an app to link regional groups to Tesco stores which then alerts charities to any surplus food available for collection.
BPC manager Nathan Gregg said: “We hope that the centre provides a place for local people to come and receive help and support with everything from accommodation to finding and applying for a job.
“The donations we receive through Community Food Connection mean we’re able to support more vulnerable people in Rugby who would otherwise not be able to afford food for a decent meal.”
Tesco’s community food connection coach Nicki MacKay said: “Food should never be thrown away when there are local people who need it.
“We’re keen to hear from any charities which could benefit from this programme and would encourage any interested groups to get in touch with their local store.”
The BPC offers a safe space where people can access support and advice with jobs and benefits, and works with charities such as Hope4 to help homeless people transition back into mainstream society.
Community Food Connection is the UK’s biggest supermarket food redistribution programme. It has helped to provide 40million meals to more than 7,000 groups.
