food waste vegetables

Image credit: Pixabay

Making a difference: NOSH Food Rescue eliminates food waste and gives back to the community

Food waste is a rising concern in South Africa. Approximately one-third of our food makes its way to the rubbish dump, while millions of South Africans go hungry.

food waste vegetables

Image credit: Pixabay

According to the Food Loss and Waste: Facts and Futures report, the simple act of reducing food waste “could be a fundamental strategy to improving food security,” and the only way to achieve that is to embed this knowledge “within government, businesses and households.”

One-third of all food produced annually does not sound like much, but it constitutes a whopping 10 million tonnes of fruits, vegetables and cereals and carries a monetary value of approximately R61.5 billion.

When that is taken into account, eliminating food waste is no longer a suggestion. It is a necessity.

Also read: Buy ugly fruit and veg to reduce food wastage

Enter NOSH Food Rescue

The NPC was started by Hanneke Van Linge three years ago and aims to reduce food insecurity by salvaging and redistributing food by partnering with retail stores. NOSH collects food items that have passed the sell-by dates and ensures that instead of the heading to the rubbish dump, it is diverted to those who need it the most.

There are two events scheduled for December, and members of the community can reach out to Hanneke via the Nosh Food Rescue NPC on Facebook for donations or to contribute your time and resources.

Thandanani Christmas Party – Friday, 7 December

NOSH, in collaboration with Rainbow T-Shirts For A Rainbow Nation and Thandanani House of Refuge, will host a Christmas party for approximately 30 children in Zandspruit, Johannesburg. 

Donations of Christmas decorations, toys and kids clothes will go along way. Reach out to Hanneke if you are in a position to put a smile on a child’s face.

Christmas Hampers and Soup Drive – 20 and 21 December

The soup kitchen is held every Friday morning in Witpoortjie, Johannesburg, on the corner of Michael Brink Street and Corlett Avenue, outside Laerskool Dr Havinga (Primary School.)

This year, NOSH will also be distributing Christmas hampers, and the team will meet on 20 December to sort through the donations and pack the hampers. The team will be leaving Randburg around 8:30 to start at Witpoortjie at 9:00, and anyone interested in donating towards the hampers can reach out to Hanneke through the Facebook page.

In just three years, NOSH has provided nearly 40,000 meals, all the while changing mindsets and empowering ordinary men and women to make a difference in someone’s life. 

Also read: SA organisation deals with food waste in a most innovative way