More than 30 tonnes of food that would have been wasted has been saved by a charity – which has broken a world record in the process.
The Thomas Franks Foundation made 80,000fresh ready meals in 24 hours which are being distributed to local charities around Somerset.
The surplus produce was donated by restaurants and shops for the effort, which was close to going out of date or was no longer needed.
About 400 volunteers joined in the record attempt from local businesses and schools, packing boxes and getting the meals out to vans for distribution.
The foundation’s head of charity, Raj Singh, said the event, which was held at the Somerset County Cricket Ground in Taunton, was made possible by the generosity of the local community.
“Volunteers are the life blood of everything we do and this is community spirit really at its best,” he said.
“We are a rich nation and food poverty is something that no one feels comfortable with and we feel we should highlight that ordinary people can do something if we get together and volunteer… we can actually tangibly make a difference.”
Mr Singh added some of the produce had been donated by farmers, who may well have ploughed the products back into the field.
The meals cooked at the event will be distributed to 16 local Somerset charities, while more will be frozen and taken to other causes around the UK, in an effort to help people eat freshly cooked meals over the winter.
The foundation’s head of charity, Raj Singh, said the event, which was held at the Somerset County Cricket Ground in Taunton, was made possible by the generosity of the local community.
“Volunteers are the life blood of everything we do and this is community spirit really at its best,” he said.
“We are a rich nation and food poverty is something that no one feels comfortable with and we feel we should highlight that ordinary people can do something if we get together and volunteer… we can actually tangibly make a difference.”
Mr Singh added some of the produce had been donated by farmers, who may well have ploughed the products back into the field.
The meals cooked at the event will be distributed to 16 local Somerset charities, while more will be frozen and taken to other causes around the UK, in an effort to help people eat freshly cooked meals over the winter.
