Cheese manufacturer Galloway Cheddar has partnered with food waste charity Fareshare and food trucks across Scotland to launch the ‘Galloway Gathering Project,’ a new campaign to help tackle loneliness and food insecurity.
Galloway Cheddar will donate the equivalent of 90,000 meals to those in need and supply 800kg of free cheese for the initiative. Food trucks will cook up special cheesy dishes this summer using Galloway Cheddar for one-off fundraising days where customers will have the opportunity to donate to FareShare.
As part of the campaign, MasterChef winner and National Chef of Scotland Gary Maclean will host two events at FareShare’s regional partner sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Gary will make portions of macaroni cheese using Galloway Cheddar which will then be distributed to those in need through FareShare’s charity partners.
Heloise Le Norcy-Trott, Group Marketing Director at the cheese brand’s parent company Lactalis UK & Ireland, said: “The Gathering Project is a chance for Galloway Cheddar to give back, be true to our values as a business rooted in rural Scotland, and make a difference. Bringing people across Scotland together over a meal or a chat is simple, but we’re hoping it creates positive change that supports FareShare’s important work.
“It’s particularly special to be doing it bigger than ever this year, working with some people dedicated to their communities and food trucks who are small independent businesses across the country to come together as a force for good. The work FareShare and its charity partners do on a daily basis is truly invaluable and we’re all proud to be playing our part in that, to make sure there is ongoing support for those facing food insecurity and loneliness at a time when the pressures of day-to-day living are being felt the hardest.”
Kirsty Ford, Head of Fundraising at FareShare, added: “We are so grateful to Galloway Cheddar for its continued support of FareShare. We need both food surplus and fundraising to help us get more good-to-eat food to the people who need it. Our network of 8,500 charities and community groups across the UK are working harder than ever to support people facing food insecurity and loneliness. Galloway Cheddar’s generous support for FareShare through engaging initiatives such as the Galloway Gathering Project helps people impacted by the cost-of-living crisis come together through food and access essential services.”
Gary Maclean, Scotland’s National Chef, commented: “I am thrilled to partner with the Galloway Gathering Project and FareShare to help address food insecurity and loneliness across Scotland. Sharing food is a timeless way to bring people together and strengthen the bonds within our communities. Through initiatives like the Galloway Gathering Project, we can address food insecurity. When we come together over a meal, we not only nourish our bodies but also our spirits, building a more united and resilient community.”
