Lidl Dundee Lochee

We are a community garden that grows veggies and fruits. Our foremost goal is to provide a safe and judgement-free 'third place' that capitalizes on the existing beauty and nurturing atmosphere intrinsic to a green space. We support the larger community through social events, hosting group activities, encouraging and teaching methods of healthy eating and reducing both our individual and collective carbon footprint. Most of our volunteers are internationals trying to make friends and adjust to life in Dundee, while the products that we either grow ourselves or receive as donations are maintained through our community fridge as part of the Dundee Community Fridge Network (DCFN). A few of our most ardent volunteers collect from large grocers such as Tesco, Co-op, Asda, and Sainsburys, while we are also supported through the Fareshare network. Each Friday and Saturday, we open our larder doors and offer a host of fresh produce, bakery, chilled and frozen foods on an entirely free or donation basis. We average approximately 250 unique visitors and 1000 individuals aided per month through our community fridge. Through Neighbourly, we are able to receive excess plants and seeds from B&Q Garden Centers. Most of this is for immediate use in Victoria Gardens, as we are always trying to increase plant variety and output. Any excess is then offered back to the community on a free or no-obligation donation basis.

Our well-established Community Food Larder, based in Lochee at Whorterbank, provides free and low-cost groceries and is: • Open to everyone • No referral required (or details needed to be given access). • People have the ability to choose what items they require. • Sustainable middle ground between traditional foodbanks and supermarkets The aim is to promote dignity, ownership and choice to our members, and hope that by offering a larder to our community we are supporting other organisations, as well as reaching out to others in our community. We also run a friendly, sociable café area where members can enjoy hot and cold refreshments as well as access support services, such as: • Energy advice, citizens advice, welfare rights and more… We hope we have created a friendly, non-judgemental environment where people feel safe and comfortable to ask for help when needed.

Dundee Foodbank prepares nutritionally balanced food parcels and gives them to members of our community in crisis. These parcels are carefully designed to support an individual, couple or family for three days and assist them through the personal crisis or hardship they are suffering. We understand that food crises can happen to anyone - and we also know how difficult it can be to consider visiting a foodbank. Our volunteers welcome those who come to our foodbank with compassion, kindness and a listening ear.