IF IT were not for a Southampton scheme that reaches out to homeless people in the city, piles of perfectly good food would have been rotting on a landfill site by now.

Instead, thanks to the Southampton branch of nationwide scheme Fareshare, which is run by SCRATCH (Southampton Region and City Action to Combat Hardship), it will feed people in the city who simply cannot afford to feed themselves.

The Fareshare scheme in Southampton receives 26,000 trays of food past the sell-by date but within the use-by date donated by supermarkets each year.

That adds up to approximately £1m worth of food which can be distributed to 23 city agencies that deal with the homeless or people with addictions.

The Society of St James hostel in Albert Road South is one of those agencies which regularly receives supplies from the Fareshare franchise.

Hostel cook Hazel Tranter said: "We have 19 permanent residents at the moment and we can offer them three meals a day thanks to Fareshare. The food delivered is great.

"We get some really nice things. Sometimes its not even past the sell-by date."

She added: "SCRATCH do a fantastic job and we have a good working relationship with them. It is such an important scheme for the community."

Paul Ozanne from SCRATCH said: "Fareshare is an integral part of SCRATCH's work in providing the poorest in the community with a decent diet."

SCRATCH is currently reaching out to Southampton people in the Daily Echo-supported Back to Basics appeal.

There are several collection points round the city, where people can drop off tinned meat, tinned fruit, cereal, tea and coffee to help line the cupboards of people in the city struck by poverty.

The Daily Echo is urging people to back the appeal and make a difference to these people's lives.

Collection points

Daily Echo office in Hanover Buildings, Southampton

The Bargate Shopping Centre, Southampton

Daily Echo office in High Street, Eastleigh

The Swan Shopping Centre, Eastleigh

Lymington United Reformed Church, High Street, Lymington

Winchester City Church, 30-31 Jewry Street, Winchester

Basics Bank, Millbank Street, Northam, Southampton

Crisis Fareshare, City Park Industrial Estate, Southern Road, Southampton

Dorcas Project, First Avenue, Millbrook, Southampton

For further information, contact: Paul Ozanne on 07711 446 850 or Basics Bank 023 8077 3132.