Community projects come together to feed even more hungry people in Northamptonshire

Two schemes helping to feed those in need in Northamptonshire and reduce food waste have come together under one roof to support even more people.

Towcester Community Fridge and Towcester Community Larder have collaborated to become a registered charity called Towcester Community Food, or TowFood for short.

Together they have refurbished a space at Towcester Town Football Club to become a hub for them to give unwanted supermarket produce to hungry families.

Katie Steele, from the charity, said: "It's a really natural collaboration in that our purposes are the same: taking food that would have been disposed of and getting out to the people that need it.

"But we're clear that we're open to everyone to take away the stigmas of accessing food banks and being means-tested and having certain criteria.

"No we're open to everyone and regularly serve over 150 people a week with the Fridge sessions and do 300-odd boxes a week with the Larder."

Since September, the Fridge operates drop-in sessions three times a week to hand out food surplus from supermarkets and other businesses from Renew 169 Wellbeing Cafe.

While the Larder was set up during the November lockdown to deliver food boxes to people that are isolating, shielding and anyone else who cannot get to the shops.

The provisions are rescued from landfill by charity SOFEA and others, delivered to the football club and boxed up to people in Towcester and 25 nearby villages.

The Fridge was quickly outgrowing its space above the cafe so the collaboration means it moved to a dedicated room at the football club in January.

Katie said they had support from many businesses to refurbish the rooms with lots of donations including a whole kitchen, fridges, landscaping and more.

"It's been a massive growth from November to now and we're in a really exciting position - the support from the community has been phenomenal," she added.

"We have over 50 absolutely wonderful volunteers that work with us and we have been very lucky to have received fantastic community support."

TowFood has big plans for the future, including running a cafe using the surplus food, holding cooking classes in the kitchen and becoming a 'social supermarket' after lockdown.

The supermarket would be ran on a subscription basis, for those that can afford it, and could also be taken to the villages in a minibus.

Katie believes the end of the pandemic will not stop the demand as when the furlough scheme finishes, many jobs may be lost so more will need food donations.

"I think it will get worse before it gets better but we will be here to help as many people as we can," she said.

For more information, visit facebook.com/towcestercommunityfood.