"We are proud to be a part of a supportive community": Foodsave in new partnership with Community College

Foodsave is moving to a new location and has announced a new partnership with the Community College. 

Honiton Foodsave is a not-for-profit organisation which was established in 2021 by former town and East Devon councillor Jake Bonetta. Jake is the brother of the youngest ever East Devon councillor, Violet Bonetta. 

The organisation aims to create a zero-food waste community in the town and surrounding villages whilst supporting struggling families with food parcels. Surplus food is collected from shops, businesses and warehouses and given out to members of the public. 

Everyone is welcome to use the service and no referral is needed. There are four sessions per week which together distribute approximately 230 food parcels. 

For the past two years the sessions have taken place at the Honiton Family Church. In 2022 a Foodsave branch was opened in Beer and more pilot locations are in the planning stages. 

Honiton Community College is also hoping to expand its links with the Honiton community. It currently hosts the Community Swap Shop and other local charities. 

Jake said: "I am delighted that Foodsave Honiton will be running their sessions from the College. 

"Not only will we be able to support more households with our existing services, but this move represents a willingness and ability to expand our offer across the Honiton area. 

"My heartfelt thanks must also go to Honiton Family Church for their dedicated support for us over the last two years – without their hospitality, we simply would not have got to the stage we are at now."

A spokesperson for Honiton Community College said: "Honiton Community College is delighted to be able to support Foodsave by offering an accessible venue from which to facilitate collections of food. 

"We are very aware of the financial hardship many local people are facing and are proud to be a part of a community working together to support each other. 

"We are grateful for all the help Foodsave has given the College over the past year by attending our Swap Shop events with food to give away and securing weekly collections of pastries and bread that support our breakfast club."

You can find out more about Foodsave here. From Monday 7 August the weekly distribution sessions will be at Honiton Community College rather than the Family Church.