Local community group Honiton Foodsave has launched an appeal for donations to help it continue its day-to-day activities.

Set up in November 2020 to combat both food waste and food poverty, Honiton Foodsave organises 39 collections of surplus food every week from 11 supermarkets, restaurants and other local sources. Since its founding seven months ago, the group has distributed well over 26,000 items of perfectly useable food to residents of Honiton and the surrounding areas, in a grand total of 3,000 organised food parcels. All this food would have been thrown away if it had not collected by the group.

Why Foodsave needs your help now

Since the end of the last coronavirus lockdown, many local community groups have suffered from a drying up of much-needed grant funding seen during the pandemic. Honiton Foodsave is no different, according to its founder and Chair, Cllr Jake Bonetta.

He said: "We are immensely proud of the community we have set up, delivering food to anyone in the Honiton community without question or eligibility. In order to continue this service, we have taken the difficult decision to start an online crowdfunding appeal to keep our service going for all."

Since opening the crowdfunder last week, Honiton Foodsave has raised almost £750 to help it continue with its regular evening sessions, putting food on the tables of those who need it.

Cllr Bonetta added: "I would like to personally thank each and every person who has donated to our project so far. £750 will see us through the next two or three months, and will allow us to begin expanding our food supply once more. Every donation - large or small - will make sure that our service remains completely free, forever, for all - and goes towards the everyday running of the organisation."

When can you get food from Honiton Foodsave?

Honiton Foodsave distributes food from Honiton Family Church on four evenings a week, to anyone and everyone who comes along. Sessions run on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays (8:45pm-10:00pm) and Sundays (4:30pm-5:30pm). The group is also on the lookout for volunteers who are willing to give up two hours a week to help sort, collect or deliver food parcels.

If you would like to claim food, volunteer or donate to Honiton Foodsave, please visit their website. You can also contact them via email, at [email protected].