A GROUP of dedicated volunteers have collected and donated over 10,700kg of food to people suffering in poverty in Coventry and Leamington.
As Warwick University students left their halls of residences this weekend, RAWKUS project volunteers went kitchen to kitchen collecting the thousands of kilograms of food left behind and redistributing it to those in need rather than see it go to waste.
Local charities including Coventry Cyrenians, Emmaus Coventry, Carriers of Hope Coventry, Lillington Youth Centre, Leamington Night Shelter and Fry Housing Trust were among the lucky recipients of over 428 crates filled with abandoned olive oils, cans, vegetables, pasta, rice and cereals.
Established just two years ago by a handful of volunteers, the entirely student-run movement has since grown to nearly 50 times its original size.
And with many students now living in rented accommodation off-campus, RAWKUS have branched out and are organising further door-to-door collections in Leamington Spa in the coming weeks and a collection in September as Postgraduate students move out.
Speaking about the success of the project, volunteer Gareth Knott said: “It’s been amazing project and a big shout out to everyone involved.
“It is a fact of national shame that in the 5th wealthiest country in the world 1 million people need to use food banks.
“The RAWKUS Project, which in just two years had grown to nearly 50 times its size is a testament to how a few people getting organised can achieve so much.”
