Keeping communities fed – The Big Help Out!
This article will take approximately 3 minutes to read
Published 23 May 2023 in Colleagues
With the cost-of-living soaring, food banks are more vital than ever. Supporting Food banks is one of your most popular volunteering activities and today we’re hearing from colleagues - Sarah Chapman, Mark Redgrave, Stephanie Kew and Kerry Betts on what they love about food bank volunteering.
Mark and Sarah co-ordinate foodbank volunteering for Warwick Support office colleagues
Listen to Sarah and Mark’s foodbank podcast here
At our Support office, we have a strong partnership with the Warwick & District Trussell Trust. Utilities Team Leader Mark Redgrave explains how the relationship developed.
“We have been collecting food items and dropping them at the foodbank for about eight years. By taking the items down regularly, I built up a relationship with them and asked if we could come and volunteer with them – they welcomed our help.
Everyone that has volunteered there has wanted to go back again and has passed on the word to other people about interesting it is. We now have about 30 volunteers on the list for our regular Thursday sessions at St Paul’s in Leamington Spa. Sarah [Chapman] invited Phil [Ponsonby] to go, and he went along, even returning with his son for another session.
To increase the number of items we can donate, we run lent and advent campaigns and get local stores and nurseries involved too. Most of the time, we get well over 1,000 items.”
Sarah Chapman, also part of the Utilities team, says, “Volunteering with foodbanks is really rewarding and you get to build a rapport with the customers that come in. Nobody has volunteered there and not wanted to go again. When I send the email round inviting colleagues to book their sessions, all the slots go within two minutes. It really is a lovely job to do – just try it.”
Stephanie enjoys seeing how her food bank donations make a difference
Stephanie Kew from the Core Marketing team put herself forward to volunteer at a Trussell Trust food bank over four years ago and hasn’t looked back.
She says, “I’d always been one to donate something at the end of my food shop to the foodbank bins, but never really gave it much thought as to where that donation goes. So, volunteering at my local foodbank allows me to see the good it makes to the community.
For me, it’s a really good way of getting away from my desk. As a graphic designer, I’m always focusing on the screen, so doing something more hands-on to help the local community is a huge bonus. I also get to meet different types of people, from the foodbank volunteers to those that use the food bank.
If you’ve ever considered volunteering at a food bank, whether it’s in your local area, or closer to where you work, give it a go. It’s really rewarding knowing you’re helping your community.”
Food banks help Kerry feel part of her community
Kerry Betts from the Commercial Finance team joined the Society in December and says the 22.5 paid volunteering hours were a big draw for her. She volunteers one afternoon a month at the Hinckley Food Bank.
She says, “Food banks are something I am particularly passionate about, especially in the current economic environment, where more and more families are facing food poverty. I already made a cash donation every month, but as with so many charities, what they really need is more people volunteering their time.
It’s really lovely to speak to the other volunteers whilst we sort and stack the donations, and I get to hear about the special events in the local area that the food bank have been able to support – it’s great to think I have played a small part in that.
I’d encourage as many people as possible to volunteer as it’s incredibly rewarding, especially if you find something that you are particularly passionate about. No matter how much time you can spare, or how frequently, it makes a huge difference to our communities and our help is always very much gratefully received.”
How will you spend your volunteering hours?
If you feel inspired to use your 22.5 (pro rata) hours to help people in your community, find out what you can use them for, how to get started on your volunteering journey and how to register your volunteering activity here.
Look out for more fantastic colleagues sharing their stories on volunteering next week.
