Super Surplus Suppers 43Super Surplus Suppers

By Monica Chard

By now, many of you will know about the By now, many of you will know about the fabulous surplus food stall, which is run out of Sunbury Cricket Club at weekends (12 Maybe you have come away from a visit there fabulous surplus food stall, which is run out of Sunbury Cricket Club at weekends (12-2). Maybe you have come away from a visit there with a big bag of bread and pastries or a bag of with a big bag of bread and pastries or a bag of veg, or if you are lucky, or some cheese. There veg, or if you are lucky, or some cheese. There is a great variety available and of course it is a great variety available and of course it changes every week, depending on donations by the supermarkets. changes every week, depending on donations by the supermarkets. But some of you may be reluctant to visit, maybe feeling ‘guilty’, that you don’t need to But some of you may be reluctant to visit, avail yourselves of surplus food and that surely maybe feeling there are many more needy out there. Well, avail yourselves of surplus food and that surely there are many more needy out there. Well, lets put the story straight so you get to know lets put the story straight so you get to know the scale of the Surplus to Supper operation, and you realise that there is plenty for everyone, including you! produce. Meals are then frozen and delivered to front line charities to distribute to their clients. Around 2000 meals are currently prepared every week to satisfy local demand. In the scale of the Surplus to Supper operation, A team of volunteers collects surplus food December the team prepared and distributed and you realise that there is plenty for every-from supermarkets every day. In an average over 12,000 meals during the month. Each one, including you!month, they will collect 40 tons of food! The meal is individually labelled and allergens are A team of volunteers collects surplus food from supermarkets every day. In an average food is brought by refrigerated van to the central hub at Sunbury Cricket Club where there is storage and refrigerators to house the noted. Surplus to Supper currently delivers to frontline charities in 4 boroughs; Spelthorne,. month, they will collect 40 tons of food! The stock before processing it Hounslow, Richmond and Runnyfood is brought by refrigerated van to the The aim of Surplus to Supper is to bridge the mede. Recipients range from children in famicentral hub at Sunbury Cricket Club where gap between food waste and food poverty. lies identified by schools, to vulnerable people/ there is storage and refrigerators to house the stock before processing it The aim of Surplus to Supper is to bridge the gap between food waste and food poverty. Surplus to Supper support front line charities. The volume of food which is disposed of by supermarkets, simply because of incorrect labelling, over supply or because it is nearing sell by date, is scandalous. So one of the objectives of Surplus to Supper is to take that food and put it to use, rather than allowing it to go Surplus to Supper is not a foodbank. We support front line charities. The volume of food which is disposed of by supermarkets, simply because of incorrect labelling, over supply or because it is nearing sell by date, is scandalous. So one of the objectives of Surplus to Supper is to take that food and put it to use, rather than allowing it to go to waste. What you see in the surplus shop is only a tiny part of the operation. Putting that food to good use, getting it to those who need it, is the principle activity of the charity. They want to support the front line charities help people who are in need by reason of their age, ill-health, disability, finanfamilies using food banks, to old/isolated adults who are clients of Age Concern. In addition, during the pandemic the team has also put together care packages to support key workers. This includes NHS staff, schools, vets, dentists, registrars of birth, deaths and marriages and funeral directors.to name a few So you can see that the surplus food goes a long way! Can you help? If you have a few hours a week to spare, Surplus to Supper would love to hear from you. They need drivers and driver buddies. To drive, you will need to have a clean driving licence and be over 30. To be a buddy you need to be hapto waste. What you see in the surplus shop is cial hardship or social circumstances. That is py to load/unload crates and boxes. only a tiny part of the operation. where the team of kitchen volunteers comes in. Please contact info@surplustosupper.org. Putting that food to good use, getting it to Managed by Tina, the team devises menus and . those who need it, is the principle activity of prepares nutritious meals using the surplus the charity. They want to support the front line charities help people who are in need by reason of their age, ill 43 www.villagematters.co.uk Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts cial hardship or social circumstances.