FareShare (Australia)
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2016) |
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| Formation | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 1 Thompson Street, Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia, 3181. Tel. 61 3 9428 0044. |
| Location | |
| Marcus Godinho | |
Key people | David Hobba, Rob McMurrich, Kath Cotter, Chris Scott, Sandy Dudakov, Bruce Blake, David Harris, Annette Chaitman, Ron Hicks, Julian Pang and Pia Dimattina |
| Staff | 5 |
| Website | www.fareshare.net.au |
FareShare (Australia) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that strives for a society where food is not wasted and no one goes hungry. FareShare rescues surplus quality food that would otherwise be wasted, and cooks more than one million meals a year in Australia’s largest charity kitchen. Its free, nutritious meals are distributed to more than 400 charities including soup kitchens, homeless shelters and community foodbanks.
FareShare collects perfectly-edible food that would otherwise be wasted from supermarkets, growers, manufacturers, wholesale markets, caterers, major retailers and hospitality schools. The food is cooked by hundreds of volunteers under the direction of experienced chefs. FareShare also redistributes a large quantity of uncooked food directly to charities and schools in disadvantaged areas.
For every $10 donated to FareShare, it can cook 15 meals for the homeless, hungry and those who have fallen on hard times.
History
FareShare began as the shared vision of a group of individuals[who?] in 2001.
Steven Kolt, a Jewish Aid Australia member, knew of the work of City Harvest, an organisation that rescues food for the needy of New York City. As a result, ‘Melbourne City Harvest’ began in 2001, rescuing food that would otherwise be wasted. Prepared meals were collected from function halls and catering venues.
Meanwhile, ‘One Umbrella’ had also begun rescuing food. With RACV Foundation’s support, the group cooked nutritious pies in the club’s kitchen. In late 2001, Melbourne City Harvest and One Umbrella decided to merge.
One Umbrella then lobbied for the creation of Victoria’s "Good Samaritan Act" which provides legal protection to those who act in good faith by donating food to charities.
In 2008, One Umbrella changed its name to FareShare and for the first time, opened its own kitchen in Abbotsford, Victoria.