Food rescue centre still needs venue

While Timaru’s first food rescue centre is still awaiting a location, its founders believe things are ‘‘moving down the track’’.

City Harvest Food Rescue Canterbury’s Dr John Milligan, and wife Janice, are in negotiations for a rental place where they can establish their second centre which will collect food considered unsellable, but still good enough to eat from South Canterbury supermarkets, wholesalers, caterers, and food retailers.

The food will then be passed to organisations helping vulnerable people.

Despite not having an operation base yet, Milligan said he wanted ‘‘to open the doors as soon as possible’’.

‘‘Some agencies have come to us saying ‘we’ve been waiting for maybe 30 years for this to happen’,’’ he said.

The 30th anniversary of the Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury helped the project when the organisation granted the Timaru food rescue project $30,000, which will go towards the first year of rent, staff wages, and other expenses.

In the meantime, the Milligans have travelled to Timaru to conduct staffing interviews, with only the final stages remaining, including the appointment of a manager.

City Harvest’s board of trustees will be joined by Jo Goodhew, who will represent South Canterbury as its trustee.

‘‘We’re looking forward to her being involved, and I think she’ll be a fantastic asset.’’

The support of the South Canterbury community had been ‘‘phenomenal’’, including inquiries from Geraldine and Waimate about possible future expansions.

‘‘People are really looking forward to us coming.’’

The community will have the chance to help the centre financially, including the opportunity to become a friend of City Harvest. Corporations and businesses will also be approached for funding, as well as ‘‘traditional funding groups’’.