Hyde and seek in search for scraps

When the Night Noodle Markets close each night and the final customers leave Hyde Park, a team from OzHarvest begins its food rescue operation.

Volunteers approach every food stall to collect leftovers that would otherwise go to waste. The meals are placed in a bright-yellow van and within hours shifted onto plates at inner-city charities open 24 hours.

''The noodles, rolls and stir-fries are midnight snacks. They can have it at breakfast,'' said Ronni Kahn, the food rescue charity's founding director. ''It's hard for stallholders to gauge how much will be bought because some nights are hot, some nights are cold. So there are leftovers.''

The charity began in 2004 and has grown into a national network salvaging surplus food from restaurants, cafes, delis and caterers. It delivers nearly 400,000 meals to the needy each month.

For the first time, it has set up a donations stand. ''We give a fortune cookie for every gold coin donation which then helps us deliver two meals,'' she said.