Diners with a social conscience have helped to raise cash for Nottingham food banks by eating meals made from food which would have ended up in the bin.
Volunteers from the social eating project, Sharing Sherwood, turn surplus supermarket food into a three-course veggie or vegan meal for a monthly community gathering on the second Sunday of every month.
Visitors pay a minimum suggested donation of £2.50 and £1.50 for children. Over the year they have raised £1,430, which has been split equally between 22 food banks in the Nottingham area.
More than 100 local people helped to celebrate Sharing Sherwood’s sixth anniversary at a meal at Sherwood Methodist Church.
The food for Sharing Sherwood’s meals, which are attended by around 60 to 80 people every month, is supplied by Fareshare East Midlands.
Nigel Adams, director of Hope Nottingham which manages 15 food banks in Nottingham said: “Over the last year Hope Nottingham’s food banks have given out 13,000parcels to help individuals and families overcome their difficulties. We are very grateful indeed for the support we have received from Sharing Sherwood. It is a great encouragement and vital in helping us overcome poverty across Nottingham.”
Nick Lawford, Sharing Sherwood spokesman, added: “Every month our team are shocked by the huge quantities of perfectly edible food that would otherwise have gone to waste, were it not for projects like Sharing Sherwood.
"Thank you so much to our amazing volunteers who work so hard every month to produce such a delicious, friendly and welcoming meal. And thank you to everyone who has come to our meals over the last year, helping us to raise such vital funds for local food banks.”
