Written by Kathy MacKay and edited by Matthew Kang
Every day in London, food that could feed families ends up in landfills. The London Food Coalition (LFC) is working to change that.
The London Food Coalition is made up of 27 local agencies, including ANOVA, Ark Aid Mission, Atlosha Family Health Services, Meals on Wheels London, and more. Together, they form a powerful network working to make sure good food reaches those who need it most.
From Waste to Plates
At the core of LFC’s work is a simple but impactful system: collecting high-quality surplus food from farms, suppliers, and retailers across London, then redistributing it to 27 member agencies that support meal programs, shelters, community centres, Indigenous organizations, and more.
This system not only saves good food from going to waste, but it supports the people and programs that feed Londoners every single day. In 2024 alone, LFC recovered 375,000 pounds of healthy surplus food from the waste stream, which resulted in thousands of meals and measurable environmental benefits.
More Than Just Moving Food
The work of the London Food Coalition goes far beyond food logistics. At a broader level, LFC serves as a genuine example of building a better and more just food system. As the coalition states, they are proud to be part of “a national shift towards food systems that nourish, respect, and uplift.” Their efforts also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to creating a just, ecological, and relational food system.
Visiting the LFC
I had the pleasure of visiting the London Food Coalition twice in the spring of 2025, and both visits left me with a strong sense of community and dedication. Quentin Ball, the Food Hub Coordinator, was impressive to watch as he actively unloaded a large shipment and supported all aspects of sorting and handling food. Matt Wannan, the Manager, was equally inspiring, providing hands-on assistance to volunteers in the food area and ensuring operations ran smoothly. Their leadership clearly creates a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and connected.
The LFC is in the same building as the Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre, and I observed a close, collaborative relationship between the two organizations. While at the LFC, I also had the chance to speak with some volunteers from Glen Cairn who utilize the recovered food from the LFC. One volunteer, Carmela, who cooks with the food supplied by LFC, shared beautiful insights that capture the spirit of this work.
Voices From Community
“All of us [the volunteers] have the same food value philosophy. Nothing gets thrown in the garbage,” Carmela told me. “If we’re making broth, we’re keeping all the parts of the broth to use for other menus that might be coming up.”
She went on to say, “It definitely relates to my family value system and food. My parents are both landed immigrants from Italy. They lived off the land and nothing went in the garbage. They were composting and recycling before it was cool to do it.”
Carmela’s connection to the work goes beyond food. It’s deeply personal. “I feel like I’m giving back because I’m cooking with love to help people. And that is the philosophy they [my parents] lived on. If they had three pieces of bread, they would keep one and share two. That’s the philosophy they grew up with … helping people … and that has stemmed down to me and my siblings and their families. So it’s who we are, and doing this fulfills and satisfies my heart.”
She described the social aspect of volunteering, too: “I’ve made lots of friends. Yeah, so it’s also that, like social fun. Although we’re working hard, we’re [also] laughing.”
These voices reveal that LFC’s work is not just about moving food, it’s about people coming together over a shared mission to nourish the city with dignity, love, and community.
How to Get Involved
The London Food Coalition thrives on community support. Here’s how you can get involved:
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- Volunteer: Help sort and deliver recovered food to local agencies
- Donate: Support storage, vehicles, and logistics that keep food moving
- Spread the Word: Share LFC’s mission with your network
By getting involved, you help reduce food waste, support emergency food programs, and build a healthier, more connected, and sustainable London. And maybe make some new friends too!
