UK's Real Junk Food Project Is in Serious Jeopardy

LEEDS, England, Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the United Kingdom's most admirable programs may be forced to close unless additional funding is secured.

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It's The Real Junk Food Project, a community interest company run by Adam Smith, a chef in the working class town of Armley. In the past year, this program has diverted more than 20,000 kilograms (44,000 pounds) of edible food to 10,000 individuals, many of whom can't afford healthy meals.

This "junk food" – which comes from supermarkets, restaurants and market stalls across Leeds – would have gone to biogas recovery systems (anaerobic digesters), livestock feed or landfill if not for the project.

Thanks to Smith and an army of volunteers, The Real Junk Food Project has been serving celebrities, media, the affluent, homeless, students and elderly at the Pay As You Feel Cafe in Armley. In addition to providing quality meals, this program reduces waste since some uneaten food would otherwise been headed for a landfill.

Unfortunately, Smith and his colleagues aren't able to obtain a mortgage in the UK since the business is less than one year old. If they can't raise enough funds to purchase the cafe, it will be sold by the owner.

"The cafe in Armley represents more than just a physical space," Smith said. "It has been a source of inspiration and a launching pad for similar sustainability projects all around the country, with food waste cafes springing up everywhere from Manchester to Brighton."

Smith and his associates have embarked on a "Save Your Cafe" crusade to purchase the cafe outright but they don't currently have the financial resources to do so. The purchase price is 100,000 pounds ($158,000 US). In order to raise this money, Smith has launched an Indiegogo campaign, which can be viewed at www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-real-junk-food-project-pay-as-you-feel-cafe--2.

Donations of any amount are welcome. For 30 pounds ($47), backers will receive a jar of The Real Junk Food Project chutney. A 100-pound ($158) pledge is rewarded with two tickets to an exclusive evening of entertainment that features "junk food" canapes as well as a meet-and-greet with Smith and others who run the project.

"With these funds, we can buy the cafe outright and continue feeding the world with food waste for years to come."

For more, visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-real-junk-food-project-pay-as-you-feel-cafe--2; the project website, www.therealjunkfoodproject.co.uk; or The Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TheRealJunkFoodProject?ref=hl.

Smith can be reached at Email, phone: +44- 1133181844.

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SOURCE The Real Junk Food Project