Social responsibility and sustainability are among the priorities of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (USB). Therefore, the management of the USB Dormitories and Refectories (D&R) has decided to help and in cooperation with the Charity of České Budějovice, it gives surplus soups from the USB Refectory Canteen to those in social need.
Despite the fact that the D&R USB management has already taken measures to prevent waste, the USB Refectory's operations produce surplus cooked food every day for objective operational reasons. Therefore, in November last year, the director of D&R USB Bedřiška Karasová agreed on cooperation with the director of Charity České Budějovice Mgr. František Nestával. The Charity České Budějovice also provides assistance to people in social need as part of its activities, which includes providing meals.
'In practice, this means that our employees prepare the undispensed soup every weekday in suitable transport containers that allow the soup to be transported at a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius, in compliance with all hygiene standards. The soup is then picked up by the charity workers and delivered to the needy who come to the Charity's dispensing point in Riegrova Street in České Budějovice at 2 pm,' explains Bedřiška Karasová, D&R USB director.
After more than two months of cooperation, not only both cooperating partners are satisfied with the cooperation, but especially the people in need who regularly use this service and who welcome it, especially in these cold months. Not to mention the praise for the quality and taste of the soups prepared by the charity's staff, which they hear from the diners every weekday.
Since November 2023, more than1,0000 portions of soup have been given away as part of this socially beneficial cooperation, which would otherwise have gone to waste. This prevents food waste and helps those who need it most. All this, of course, while maintaining all hygiene standards.
