FORMER Glasgow restaurateur Craig Johnson became so frustrated about kids going hungry when excess food is being thrown away that he set up a charity to tackle the issue.
Not-for-profit Launch Foods has now served up 11,100 hot meals to children in Glasgow in just six weeks and is on the verge of opening two not-for-profit coffee shops in the city centre to help fund the project.
However, in order to feed more children he needs help, particularly from anyone with any vehicles he can convert into food trucks.
He already has one American Airstream Rocket food truck which he bought because he was so appalled at the thought of kids in the city going hungry.
“I would watch TV and swear at the politicians until I ran out of swear words,” said Johnson, whose work is supported by TV star Elaine C Smith. “I could not understand why food was being thrown out when at the same time we have food poverty. One in four kids here are now living in poverty which is shocking.
“I grew up in an environment where my parents did their best but I know what an empty fridge looks like. I know what these kids feel like and something has to be done. We can’t just rely on the Government, although hopefully they are doing their best. We need to get a grip and if everyone works together I think it can get fixed.”
Johnson initially spoke to food banks to find out more about what was needed. “They said kids were suffering because parents did not want to use food banks because of the stigma around them.
To take away the stigma he came up with the idea of buying the food truck and taking it around schools at the end of the school day to provide children with hot meals before they went home. The project is about to start serving to five schools in the East End but has already been working with a charity over the holidays, supplying 300 children a day with a hot, nutritious meal.
The Launch coffee shop will open in Bothwell Street before Christmas, with an additional one planned for Finnieston.
Anyone who can help with vehicles or in any other way can get in touch via launchfoods.org.
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