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Drivers Frank Rangi and Julie King
The Food Rescue service, which began almost a year ago on the Hibiscus Coast, now has its own dedicated vehicle thanks to a generous grant from Countdown.
Until now, volunteers from Love Soup Hibiscus Coast have been using their own vehicles to collect surplus food from local supermarkets (including all three Countdowns), Dad’s Pies in Silverdale, Puhoi Valley and the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA and distribute it to local people in need.
The team collects perfectly edible food that would normally be thrown out and go to landfill or pig farms.
The food, which includes fruit, vegetables, bread and cheese, is delivered to organisations such as the Hibiscus Coast Youth Centre, Orewa Community Church, the Community House in Orewa and Women’s Refuge as well as local schools.
Love Soup Hibiscus Coast director Julie King applied to Countdown’s Food Rescue contestable fund for enough money to buy a van and last month she flew to Wellington to collect a cheque for $15,000.
Countdown’s general manger corporate affairs James Walker says that its stores partner with food rescue groups and foodbanks all over the country to provide food to people who need it.
“It’s important that we also help our food rescue partners build their capabilities so that in turn they can help more people and rescue more food,” he says.
The van, which the Love Soup team took possession of last Friday, is refrigerated and will be sign written with the Love Soup and Countdown logos.
