Two more public meetings are to be held before the end of the month about expanding the Re-Food project to help cut waste and feed the hungry in the Algarve.
The meetings will start at 7pm on May 27 in the municipal auditorium in Quarteira and in the Albufeira auditorium on May 28. “We want to invite people from all over the Algarve to come along and learn about Re-Food,” say the organisers.
Hunter Halder, the Lisbon-based founder and lead figure in the national programme, will explain the project and be available to answer questions in English as well as Portuguese.
The main aim is to recruit volunteers to manage local systems or spend just two hours a week involved in collecting, repacking and delivering food in their neighbourhoods.
The first “seeding” meetings in the Algarve were held last month, one in Almancil, the other in Algoz-Tunes. As a result, teams of volunteers are in the process of being formed in the municipalities of Loulé and Albufeira under the direction of Alexandra Brito and Carla Rosa. Restaurants and other sources willing to donate food rather than bin it will be lined up. People in need of food will be identified.
Alexandra Brito is a graduate in civil engineering now working as a loss adjuster. She decided to become involved on first learning of the Re-Food project because it seemed to provide such a practical solution to hunger.
“We can do nothing without volunteers,” she said. “At the meeting in Almancil 60 people showed interest in becoming volunteers. I am hoping we will get at least 100 more from the Quarteira meeting.”
Carla Rosa, who is organising the Albufeira meeting, is a fully trained food engineer, having graduated after five years at the University of the Algarve. She has worked for many years as a company manager and as a freelance consultant specialising in the implementation and maintenance of food quality and safety standards in the region.
“We must unite as a community and help those who are currently experiencing difficulties, always respecting the standards of food safety and hygiene,” she says.” This is my contribution as a citizen.”
The Re-Food programme has expanded almost throughout Lisbon since its founding there in March 2012. The successful Lisbon model is now being adapted to suit the population and dwelling density differences in the Algarve region.
Everyone with an interest in stopping food waste and hunger at little or no cost will be welcome at the Quarteira and Albufeira meetings.
Photo: Hunter and Christopher, father and son, who lead Project Re-Food in Lisbon
