As a part-time Food Service Assistant I am indirectly responsible for huge amounts of left-over good
food being thrown into the thrash-bin every day. At home, I am directly responsible for a similar
insensitive activity, though on a smaller scale. Walking through the streets of Melbourne, I have
noticed that even in the midst of plenty, there is also poverty and hunger. I have always noticed
people who are in need of or searching for food. I understand that most people feel guilty of wasting
food; kind-hearted people who like to help the hungry do not know what to do with the good food
they would otherwise have to throw into the dustbin. Now that Green Step has given me the
opportunity to think about how to make a difference in the lives of children and marginalized
people, the ‘food waste’ problem has thrown up a positive thought. The ‘problem’ I mentioned at
the beginning can be turned into a solution for the hungry. Therefore, I will take my first step by
providing food to the hungry in my locality with the edible food which I painfully dispose into the trash-
bin. I am sure that other good-hearted people and institutions in the locality will also join. The extra
food that usually goes to the waste bin from homes and institutions will go one more step before
going to the waste bin (if there is anything leftover!). It will go to unmanned ‘food-available to
anyone’ and ‘open display’ centers where anyone can come and put good food items and anyone
who is hungry can come and take them away for free. I will start the first ‘food available to anyone’
center in front of my own residence. In the beginning, I will identify the ‘givers’ and the ‘takers’,
move around, collect the food, and distribute. Later, I am sure that empathetic people will give space
and facility to start collection centers where people can come and leave the food and the needy can
come and take the food without hurting their self-image. So, there is one more stop-over for good
food before it would have otherwise moved to the thrash-bin. And more than that, it brings joy and
health to so many who would have gone to bed hungry.