Tenants of Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) are being encouraged to help reduce food poverty in Newcastle by donating food items from their kitchen cupboards to charity.
FareShare, the national food charity, which is run by The Cyrenians in the North East, was given a boost earlier this month when YHN launched ‘iCan Week’ from Monday 9th May.
The scheme aimed to get staff and tenants to donate tinned foods at collection points in YHN housing office, some of its sheltered schemes and concierge lodges. The council is also arranging collection points to be situated in its council buildings.
FareShare, the UK-wide charity collects fit-for-purpose fresh food which is usually donated by retailers or food processors who would otherwise have thrown it away. Volunteers at the charity then redistribute the produce to local community groups including homeless organisations, children’s clubs as well as some YHN tenants.
General Manager at The Cyrenians FareShare North East, Michael Shields, said:
“Thousands of children in Newcastle are going to go to bed hungry tonight so we’ve obviously got a lot of work to do. Many adults too also require our help. If everyone in Newcastle gave just one can of food a week we could feed Newcastle’s food poverty population for an entire year, so clearly this would make an enormous difference”
John Lee, chief executive at YHN, said:
“It is vitally important that we not only help to provide our tenants with homes but that we ensure they live comfortably and without poverty.
“By working with FareShare we’re helping to make sure that some of our less fortunate tenants, as well as other vulnerable people in society are properly nourished and provided for.
“It’s always important to look after one’s neighbour and hopefully, the generosity of our staff and tenants will make a big difference to some people who are less well-off.”
