Volunteers spent the day on a farm to harvest vegetables that would have otherwise gone to waste so the produce could be turned into meals for our Help the Hungry appeal.

More than six tonnes was secured from the farm near Margate in Kent by the 20 harvesters, who all volunteer for our appeal partner The Felix Project. Helping our initiative, the farmer had an excess of cauliflowers and brassicas that he offered for free if the charity was able to come and pick them.

The recent warm weather had sped up their growth cycle, meaning the farm would have been unable to harvest and sell them before they flowered and spoiled.

In addition, the farm was able to donate potatoes that were deemed too big or too small for the commercial market. Katie Brookes, from Edenbridge, was one of the harvesters who responded to the request for help sent out by the Felix Project on social media. She spent a day last week cutting cauliflowers.

She admitted it had been hard work as each volunteer was given a knife to cut the vegetables before placing them in string sacks. Social distancing meant they were each given their own row to harvest. But the 53-year-old said the hard work was worth it. “Everyone wanted to get out and do something. It was a great opportunity to help out and do something worthwhile.”

Hackney-based NGO Feedback Global, which is working to secure more sustainable food systems, worked with The Felix Project to secure the produce by alerting the charity to the opportunity.

Help The Hungry: Damien Hirst rainbow heart displayed across London Show all 6 1 /6 Help The Hungry: Damien Hirst rainbow heart displayed across London Help The Hungry: Damien Hirst rainbow heart displayed across London Aiden and Tanya from South Hill School in Hemel Hempstead put up Damien Hirst's butterfly heart in their school window Jeremy Selwyn Help The Hungry: Damien Hirst rainbow heart displayed across London Brothers and sisters, Mei, Rio and Jui, proudly hold up Help The Hungry posters Nigel Howard Help The Hungry: Damien Hirst rainbow heart displayed across London Elise and Josie pose with their poster at their Carshalton home Daniel Hambury/@stellapicsltd Help The Hungry: Damien Hirst rainbow heart displayed across London The heart is a symbol of solidarity and hope to support the Independent's Help The Hungry campaign Evening Standard Help The Hungry: Damien Hirst rainbow heart displayed across London The Turner Prize-winning artist created the rainbow heart design filled with butterflies, one of his motifs, to pay tribute to charities and individuals helping to feed vulnerable people during the coronavirus crisis Help The Hungry: Damien Hirst rainbow heart displayed across London Students at South Hill School in Hemel Hempstead wave as they display a butterfly heart poster

Once harvested, the food was then taken in Felix Project vans to its depot in Enfield for storage. Projects it will help supply include local homeless hostels, community kitchens, women’s refuge centres, services for the elderly and food banks.

The Independent's Help the Hungry appeal has so far raised £3m and is delivering the equivalent of 100,000 meals a day to vulnerable people across the capital.