Rescued food provides feast for all

A community initiative in Bayswater is tackling the problem of food waste while bringing locals together to break bread.

The Kaitahi Bayswater Community Dinner is a new monthly event, using salvaged food from local supermarkets to make a free meal for residents.

The initiative is a combined effort between community project Shore to Thrive, the Bayswater Community Committee and the Little Village Grocer.

Shore to Thrive’s Stephen McLuckie decided to bring the concept to Bayswater after seeing it in action at a community centre in Point Chevalier.

‘‘Kaitahi means shared food, eating together,’’ McLuckie said.

‘‘It’s also a community dining initiative that is all about bringing people [together].’’

The food is donated by local businesses and KiwiHarvest, an organisation that collects surplus food from commercial food providers that would otherwise be destined for the bin.

The first dinner was held on September 13, attracting 60 locals to the Belmont Park Bowling club for the night.

On the menu was roasted veggies, couscous, pasta with chorizo sausage and a dessert of apple and apricot crumble.

An even bigger turn out is expected at the next event, on Wednesday, October 11, 5.30pm at the Belmont Bowling Club.

SUPPLIED The community dinner drew 60 locals together to share a meal.