Getting to know the person behind the activism: Hanneke van Linge
LINDEN – For Hanneke van Linge, food rescue gets her out of bed in the morning. Having dedicated her interview to raising awareness on how the public can get involved, this speaks volumes of her character. She thinks of herself as being "born to serve".
Hanneke van Linge gestures animatedly as one of her Nosh Food Rescue volunteers nods excitedly in response, eye contact is made followed by a smile.
“Hello. Welcome. Thank you for coming. Here’s your name tag and grab a cocktail, I’ll take you to your table.”
Amid the chatter of the Odd Plate Dinner event, guests are led to their table by an untiring ponytail. Maureen Gleeson, one of the attendees at the event as well as a long-time friend of van Linge, explains that she has known Hanneke since school. “Hanneke says she was born to serve people and is very creative. She made the tie dye kimono she’s wearing today,” beams Gleeson. This is very apparent as van Linge spent most of the interview discussing the Nosh Food Rescue event and the work she does in her community and only paused to eat at the end of the Odd Plate Dinner.
Photo: Thabang Bonoko
“My parents raised me to abhor food waste”. Her family hailing from Holland in 1982, ensures a strong dutch heritage. The Masters graduate explains that she began her journey with food rescue in 2012 because a friend asked for her help with a soup kitchen and she “struggle[s] to say no”. Her passion for food rescue is what wakes her up in the morning. This passion, supplemented by her love of permaculture and agriculture, led to the birth of her various charity organisations to perform her activism and effect positive change. Van Linge elaborates that at times her plans are constrained by resources, yet she believes it’s important to “start where you are”.
Amidst her activism, van Linge is a craft teacher; crochets, creates mosaics, facilitates wine tastings, and teaches permaculture courses. Van Linge’s drive and love for effecting positive change is undeniable. Visit her website to see how you can contribute to effecting positive change: volunteers are always welcome.
Get in touch with Nosh Food Rescue to join in on the conversation: Facebook page Nosh Food Rescue NPC; 011 793 6390, tweet them at @noshfoodrescue; and follow them on Instagram: @noshfoodrescueNPC; hanneke@noshfoodrescue.co.za
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/randburg-sun/362301/classic-flavour-combinations-take-food-next-level/
