FoodStock 2021, our emergency winter operation, has launched. The operation, which aims to build a stockpile of ambient food with the funds and infrastructure to deliver it through a difficult winter is kicking off early due to the significant need for support from food businesses, corporate supporters and the public.
The decision to launch the campaign and operation earlier than planned comes amid concerns about the security of food supply to us, as in recent weeks we have seen a 30% reduction as a result of the ongoing HGV driver crisis.
“We knew that this winter would present challenges, with the rising cost of living, the complete end to furlough, and with the reduction in universal credit. That is why we planned to run FoodStock 2021, boosting levels of food reaching those most in need during the winter months. However, with the additional challenges created by the HGV driver crisis, and with our expectation that this disruption will remain for some time, it is clear that the scale of our FoodStock 2021 operation will need to be more significant, and that we may need more support from the people of Bristol than we had previously expected.”
FareShare South West’s CEO, Julian Mines.
“The emergency food that will be amassed as part of the operation, along with the increased funds we hope the campaign will generate, will mean we can both bolster deliveries to organisations working with the most vulnerable over winter, as well as being confident in our abilities to continue our regular operations, ensuring frontline settings receive food from us consistently, which they can then provide to their end users.”
Says Julian Mines.
As with last year’s winter operation, which responded to the acute need caused by the pandemic, we will source ambient food at scale from across the food industry in the coming two months, with the aim of redistributing enough food for 1 million meals between now and January 2022.
“The disruption we’re experiencing sadly means increased costs to our charity, including organising last minute collections and deliveries, overhauling systems at short notice and the costs associated with getting increasing amounts of short-dated food through our warehouses and to partners quickly, in order to avoid waste.
We have an exciting fundraising opportunity, where donations from the public will be matched in late November, but for now we’re encouraging individuals and local businesses to consider fundraising ideas, volunteering with us, as well as simply making sure everybody they know, knows that FoodStock 2021 is happening this year.
We are yet again relying on the power of Bristol – a city brimming with care and compassion – to come together to help us ensure those most in need don’t go without this winter.”
Continues Julian Mines, FareShare South West CEO.
The hub for the FoodStock 2021 operation, with the mass of stockpiled ambient food and infrastructure to deliver it, will be based out of FareShare South West’s temporary warehouse, a former beds warehouse in Ashton Gate, with deliveries from the warehouse expected to start as soon as 1st November 2021.
To contact the charity to discuss donating food at scale or haulage support to the winter operation, email: ben.evans@faresharesouthwest.org.uk
If you’re a business looking to establish a partnership or to fundraise in support of FoodStock 2021, contact: phoebe@faresharesouthwest.org.uk
For more information or to donate as a member of the public, visit: www.faresharesouthwest.org.uk/foodstock-2021
