Taste of success as Shrewsbury hub shares out surplus food

Free food is being given out in Shrewsbury over the next few days to use up Christmas surplus and help the town's food hub.

The Festive Food Share was organised by food hub volunteers in conjunction with churches across the town.

Shrewsbury Food Hub collects good, surplus food from 20 supermarkets, six days a week throughout the year.

It distributes the food across a network of 56 community groups. However at Christmas, many of the groups are closed and the food hub says it needs everyone’s help to get this good food eaten.

Pippa Lobban, co-ordinator for the Food Hubs said: “Over Christmas there is twice the normal amount of surplus food – so we have food share tables at Riversway Church, Lancaster Road, Church of the Holy Spirit, Sundorne, Crowmoor Baptists and The Meet Place on Meole Estate.

“Everyone is welcome to come along to help us get the food used rather than it go to waste. We expect to have lots of bread, fruit, veg and groceries to share. We never know quite what we’ll get, so we’re asking everyone to pop in before they go to the shop and help eat it up. There is no need to pay for the food but there are donation boxes to pay as you feel. Please bring a bag.”

'A wonderful idea'

The United Reformed Church on English Bridge, which organises Come and Share lunches with Osnosh, was also taking part.

Pastor Phil Briggs from the Riversway Elim Church, said: "This is a wonderful idea and we are only too pleased to be able to help. A lot of people benefit from the food hub throughout the year."

One of those picking up food from the United Reformed Church was Lincoln Birch from Shrewsbury.

He was chosing a variety of the vegetables on the table in exchange for a donation.

"I eat a plant-based diet and this is a wonderful idea to use surplus vegetables and help those in need."

Food share tables will be held on Riversway Church and Meet Place on January 2 and Riversway and Church of the Holy Spirit on January 3.