by Angela Cotton
Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership has set up a Free Shop at Swaythling Station. The aim is to reduce local food waste by providing surplus food to anyone who can make use of it. This can be out of ‘sell by’ date food that is still edible, donated by supermarkets, surplus produce from allotments and gardens or donations of fresh or packaged foods from private individuals. At present the shop offers fruit and vegetables and some canned or packaged food. All food is vegetarian with no dairy, alcohol or anything that needs refrigeration. The aim is to prevent food waste, so there are no restrictions on who can make use of the food. Left over fresh produce will be distributed to the Southampton Sunday Lunch Club project, St Albans Church and similar organisations. The shop currently runs from 10.30-12.00 on most Saturday mornings and 10.00-11.00am on occasional Tuesday mornings. More volunteers to help at the shop or to collect produce from supermarkets are welcome. For more information contact Mark at info@threeriversrail.com or mob 07900 103296.