Food charity warns of volunteer driver shortage

A charity that redistributes surplus food to those in need has warned it may have to cancel deliveries as it does not have enough volunteer drivers.

Fareshare Midlands helps feed about 80,000 people each week by collecting good-to-eat food from supermarkets and warehouses that would otherwise go to waste, passing the food on to charities and community groups.

Since a number of drivers had retired, it needed to recruit at least 15 more to maintain the service, staff said.

Fareshare's commercial lead, Laura Spencer, added: "Without that driver support, that may mean that we're not able to deliver the food that we get in everyday."

The impact would be huge on the people "desperately in need of that support", she said.

The organisation supports an estimated 800 community pantries and cafés, schools and shelters, such as St John's Methodist Church's Revive Cafe in Bloxwich, Walsall.

In turn, member organisations pass food to those living in food poverty and insecurity by way of parcels, affordable shopping schemes or cooked meals.

Fareshare said volunteer drivers were tasked with loading and unloading vehicles and completing paperwork, as well as collecting and delivering food.

It has advertised available roles in its redistribution depots in the Nechells area of Birmingham, plus Leicester and Nottingham.

Volunteers must be over 18 and have a full, clean driving licence, the charity said.

Geoff Rey and wife Josie have been volunteering for FareShare for more than three years, collecting food from the depot in Nechells several times a week.

"Well we deliver just about under a ton normally, about 800 kilos. Depending on where we're going, what round we've got, but it's usually around about that figure, so it's quite a lot." Mr Rey said.

"I just like getting out and about and meeting people to be honest. Meeting people and doing good at the same time."

"He likes the driving," added Mrs Rey, "And it's our two days a week fitness programme."

More drivers would also help The Bethel Apostolic Church of Excellence in Ladywood, which has a foodbank and a lunch service for children attending their summer school.

Hazel Samuels, at the church, said they usually had food delivered but due to the shortage had to pick-up supplies, which was "sometimes difficult."

"In this community, each week, we give out at least 36-40 bags, so we do need more drivers, it's so important," she said.

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