Armley neighbours share nearly 2,000 apples with local households

A month of sharing garden fruit has put 1,961 apples into local hands in Armley, Leeds.

Residents, allotment holders and volunteers gathered the harvest for Leeds City Mission’s Compassion Centre. Baskets outside its Mistress Lane premises let passers-by take fresh fruit home to eat or cook.

Writing in West Leeds Dispatch, development worker Andy Dalton says the total is double last year’s trial. The apples have added a seasonal fresh option to a food bank that usually distributes tins and packets.

The charity’s separate account of its pantry work explains who that support reaches: people facing benefit delays, insecure work and other difficulties, identified through referrals or its regular community work. Supermarket surplus supplies its usual food stock.

The harvest figure comes from the organisation itself and counts apples, rather than households helped. A seasonal giveaway also cannot meet people’s food needs throughout the year.

For now, neighbours’ spare fruit has widened the choice available to people on limited incomes, through a simple arrangement others can join.

Sources

• West Leeds Dispatch — ‘Apples for Armley’ proves a big success
• Leeds City Mission — pantry project and community work