£20k of food goes to community larders
Huge effort by eight Co-op stores during pandemic
Branches of the Co-op in Perth are currently helping hundreds of local householders who are shielding from COVID-19.
The eight Co-op stores in the city have signed up to help prevent waste, handing out £20,000 worth of groceries to community larders over the last 10 weeks.
Sarah Clayton, member pioneer for Tulloch and Argyll Road stores, was contacted in March by Sheila Best from PKC waste management to see if there was a way the Co-op could help with waste reduction.
Sarah contacted Susan Thomson, member pioneer for Bridge of Earn, Darnhall Drive, and Funeral Care and Jemma Wildman, member pioneer for Scone and Bridgend, for help.
Susan explained: “I jumped on board as did Jemma at Bridgend and Sarah from our Tulloch store.
“When the three of us rallied round, within 24 hours we had all eight stores in Perth signed up to help.
“With the current pandemic, our normal foodshare partners were no longer operating during lockdown, so this opportunity to have all stores working together to help the wider community was an amazing achievement - which we are so proud to be part of.
“We are collectively helping hundreds of households in the community who are shielding, vulnerable and struggling during COVID-19.
Susan continued: “On hearing from Jon Kidd, chair of Letham4All, and his team of volunteers, the struggles we did not realise existed became so real.
“It was heart-warming to be able to have been part of this and helping so many communities.”
Letham4All, as part of the North Perth COVID-19 Response Group, is able to make great use of the stock that the local Co-ops are donating.
Of particular note are the links with Mustard Seed Café and Giraffe Perth, who are making fresh ready meals for distribution to the local communities.
Susan continued: “If we have large quantities of ingredients that Letham4All may struggle to distribute in food parcels, these two organisations can make use of them for ready meals.
“The meals then come full circle and are included in food parcels or distributed through the foodshare locations in Letham, Tulloch, Fairfield, Muirton, Bertha Park and the City Centre.
“After speaking to Jon, we became curious on how much collectively the eight Co-op stores have donated to
Foodshare over the last 10 weeks.
“We have managed to get an early indication and estimate that our eight stores have between them donated over £20,000 of food to Letham4All to help feed the local area.”
Jon Kidd is grateful for the Co-op’s assistance, adding: “The eight Co-op stores we are working with have been a tremendous help to us.
“They have provided us with a veritable mountain of quality, usable food that we can distribute.
“This allows us to both reduce food waste and respond to hardship.”
Jon and his team of volunteers have put in long hours ensuring the Co-op food donations are collected daily.