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10 | May• 2019N
ew Zealander Benjamin
Johnson didn’t feel comfortable
about the huge amount of food
waste being thrown out by cafés,
eateries and catering companies while
so many people were going hungry.
So, he did something about it. With
the help of volunteers, he set up a
‘Free Store’ system where fresh and
perishable food would be redistributed
to those in need.
With no money to lease a
commercial space, they converted
a rusty old six-metre shippingcontainer into a beautiful purpose-
built store.
Starting in Wellington, New
Zealand, in 2010, the concept has
grown to eight stores throughout the
country. More of a ‘movement’ than a
franchise, these Free Stores serve
people from all walks of life and are
run entirely by volunteers who collect
and distribute the food on a daily
basis. As local volunteers know what
is most needed in their community,
each store is a little bit different yet
is founded on shared principles.Free Stores Distribute Surplus Food
COMPILED BY VICTORIA POLZOT
ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES