THE PARTNERSHIP between the FoodCloud charity and AIB has has helped redistribute 672 tonnes of food, which amounts to over 600,000kg, in Limerick in the last year.
Over 5,000 ready-to-eat meals were served directly to people experiencing food insecurity in the first year of the community meals programme.
The partnership between FoodCloud and AIB overall has helped redistribute over 15,000 tonnes of food across Ireland, which is the equivalent of feeding the population of Ireland nearly seven times.
FoodCloud has lauded a number of success stories from the first year of the AIB FoodCloud Community Meals Programme, an initiative it says is transforming surplus food into freshly prepared meals for community and charity groups in Ireland.
The innovative programme has delivered a substantial impact by adding to the traditional redistribution of surplus food, while the programme builds stronger community connections, with new research proving that shared food can increase the levels of engagement with local support services.
“The AIB FoodCloud Community Meals Programme is a powerful evolution of our mission to ensure no good food goes to waste,” said Aoibheann O’Brien, FoodCloud co-founder and director of development.
“With AIB’s support, we’re reaching more charities and community groups across Ireland at a time when food insecurity is growing as the cost of living continues to rise.”
AIB, a key partner to FoodCloud since 2018, has been supporting the programme as part of its wider commitment to sustainability and community impact.
“AIB’s purpose is to empower people to build a sustainable future,” said Barry Field, corporate affairs director at AIB.
“We are proud to support the AIB FoodCloud Community Meals Programme, which aligns with our commitment to fostering sustainable communities and reducing food waste.
“By collaborating with FoodCloud, we are helping to ensure that surplus food reaches those who need it most, reinforcing our dedication to social inclusion and environmental responsibility.
“I want to commend all the volunteers, including the many from AIB, who have contributed so much to this programme through their time and shared effort in providing such a valuable service for the inspiring community and charity groups who work with FoodCloud,” he said.
