A charity is urgently calling for volunteers to help serve free meals to people in need.
FoodCycle, which runs weekly community meals at the Tolladine Hub in Worcester, is struggling to fill volunteering slots this summer due to a seasonal drop in support.
The charity, which tackles hunger, loneliness, and food waste, needs cooks, servers, and pot washers.
Rosie Watkins, 73, a regular volunteer at FoodCycle Worcester, said: "Sometimes families and individuals really struggle to pay for good food, or aren't used to cooking for themselves for various reasons.
"At FoodCycle we provide a welcoming place where anyone can come along to enjoy a free three-course meal.
"When we have no leftovers we know how much our guests have enjoyed the meal.
"That is the best feedback we can receive."
Demand for FoodCycle meals has risen by 17 per cent in the past year due to the cost-of-living crisis and increased social isolation.
One guest said if it didn't exist: "I would starve and may not have food to eat.
"That's the reality."
Since launching in October 2024, FoodCycle Worcester volunteers have served more than 1,000 free meals and diverted nearly two tonnes of surplus food from waste.
Sophie Tebbets, CEO of FoodCycle, said: "Every summer, we see a drop in volunteer numbers – with students heading home, parents and grandparents having less free time, and regular volunteers taking well-earned holidays.
"This summer the need is greater than ever, with almost 10,000 volunteer sessions to fill nationally.
"At the same time, demand for our meals continues to rise.
"It’s shocking that three-quarters of the guests we surveyed last year said they couldn’t afford to buy the food they need – and around four in 10 don’t have access to an oven.
"That’s why we’re asking people to make this a ‘Summer of Peas & Love’ by signing up to volunteer.
"Once you see the difference it makes, you won’t regret it."
Volunteer roles are open to anyone over 18 with no minimum weekly commitment.
