Over 44kg of food from the kitchens at HOME that would have been wasted due to the second lockdown were instead donated to Manchester Central Foodbank, thanks to Head Chef Kev Toft.
When news came that HOME would have to close their building for a second time, Kev, who can regularly be seen on HOME’s Instagram showing off the amazing dishes he creates, decided to look for somewhere to donate any ingredients rather than throw them away.
The donated items – which included milk, cream and fresh vegetables such as onions, peppers and tomatoes – were then made into food parcels by the foodbank and given to those who needed them.
Kev said: “There wasn’t large quantities of one item, it was a mix of lots of items that could be easily turned into meals for those who need them.”
This is not the first time the chef has made sure that unwanted food went to those in need rather than go in the bin – he did the same thing at the start of the first lockdown.
He said: “If I hadn’t have got in touch with anybody then I’m sure my staff would have taken some home but the majority would have had to go into the bin as there was nothing more we could do with it.
“It was brilliant to know that it was going to a good cause and to feed those who needed it, it would have been sickening to see all that food go to waste when there are people struggling.”
Kev also made HOME’s famous cinnamon buns recipe available to all as gift during the arts venue’s lockdown fifth birthday celebrations.
- You can find out more about how to support Manchester Central Foodbank, here.