When Jonas from London joined Olio in 2023, he was going through a difficult financial period and signed up for one reason: to get free food. After a while, he decided to start Save Me collections from his local Sainsbury’s as he could keep as much surplus food as he wanted.
“Very quickly I realised Olio was much more than a food sharing app. It was a way to connect with people and do something positive for my community.”
Jonas’ move into being a Food Waste Hero who collects more than just Save Me collections began when he claimed a one-off collection slot at St Thomas’ Hospital, a popular one that’s rarely free.
“After my first collection, another Food Waste Hero from the squad messaged me privately. She helped me get started and over time we’ve become really good friends. We still message each other most days just to see how things are going. That’s a friendship I never expected to find through an app.”
The surplus meals from Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals are varied: vegetarian dishes, soups, pasta, curries, casseroles, cottage pies, sandwiches and desserts. Sometimes there’s enough for more than 50 meals in a single collection, and what Jonas lists for his local Olio-ers gets snapped up quickly.
“One of the nicest things is seeing how quickly everything finds a home. I have regular collectors who genuinely appreciate the food, and it’s rewarding knowing that good food is feeding people.”
A serious medical emergency in 2025 had turned Jonas’ life upside down, and he began to feel depressed, anxious and lonely – but getting out for a surplus food collection gave him something to hold onto.
“Every time I claim a collection slot, I’m making a commitment. No matter how I’m feeling that day, I know people are depending on me, so I get up and go. That routine has given my days structure and purpose, and it’s made a huge difference to my mental health and recovery.”
As much as being a Food Waste Hero helps, it’s the fellow Olio-ers who make a real difference to how Jonas feels.
“The most surprising thing isn’t actually the food, it’s the people. If I haven’t listed anything for a few days, some of my regular collectors message me to check that I’m okay. It’s difficult to describe what that feels like, but it makes me happy to know that people appreciate what I do.”
Recently, Jonas had an experience with someone he met through Olio that he felt extremely grateful for.
“I needed oral surgery and the hospital required someone to come with me on the day, otherwise my operation would have been cancelled. I eventually asked one of my regular collectors if he would be willing to come with me, and without hesitation he said yes. So, indirectly, thanks to the Olio community, I was able to have my surgery.”
The community left its mark on his garden, too. Flowers and plants came from generous Olio-ers, often handed over when they collected food from him – getting Jonas into gardening. His little garden now grows tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, onions, mint, climbing plants and lots of flowers, with lemon and avocado trees grown from seeds he’s rescued from Olio fruit. He’s even started saving seeds from what he grows, so the cycle keeps going.
“Watching rescued food become growing plants has been incredibly rewarding. Every new leaf reminds me that things can recover and grow with a bit of care.”
What does Olio mean to you?
“For me, Olio is about much more than saving food. It’s about giving both people and things a second chance. Food that would have been thrown away feeds families. Plants that someone no longer wanted now fill my garden with life. After a very difficult period in my own life, Olio helped me rebuild my confidence, reconnect with people and become part of a community again.”