Like a reported 700,000 other over 50s since the pandemic, I decided on a change of pace and direction. I stopped working in the industry I’d been in for 30+ years and embarked on small business start-up with a couple of like-minded peers. This venture is no where near as time consuming as my full-time job was so, in part inspired by the sense of community I saw during COVID, I have been giving more of my time to volunteering. At the height of the pandemic, I, along with a lot of others, became an NHS Volunteer Responder. My role was primarily as steward at a local vaccination centre, helping to bring people through the door and get the vaccine in their arms as quickly as possible.
As that need tailed off, the economic crisis grew and (perhaps to my shame) I first became aware of the vital role food banks were playing in communities including mine. I seached online for local foodbanks, found this one at Thetford and used the contact us feature of the website to reach out and offer my time. A quick email exchange later and I went to visit the foodbank warehouse where I received a warm welcome and had the job explained to me. I had to complete a volunteer application form (contact details, next of kin, what your prepared to help with etc) and the next week I started.
Volunteering at a local foodbank warehouse is an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of those in need. The role of a volunteer is to assist with the distribution of food to those who are hungry in their local community. This can involve a variety of tasks, from sorting and stocking food, to packing boxes for delivery, and much more.
Volunteers typically arrive at the foodbank warehouse around lunchtime, and the time commitment is generally about two hours. The first task is usually to pack the delivery boxes which are a different in size depending on whether the recipient is a single person, a couple or a small or large family. The foodbank has a list of recommendations about what makes up a box of balanced nutritious food for each of these audiences. Once packed, the boxes are weighed and stored for distribution once during the week and again at the weekend.
When the boxes are packed and stored, we move onto sorting through donated food and supplies. This mainly involves checking expiration dates, checking suitability and sorting into the different types e.g beans, soup, tea, biscuits, savoury snacks, pasta, etc. The goal is to ensure that all of the food is safe and fit for distribution, so it’s important for volunteers to be meticulous and detail-oriented. When it’s been sorted into its various types, the food is put back in the warehouse store rooms ready for the next time the delivery boxes need filling.
In addition to packing boxes, volunteers may also assist with loading food onto delivery vehicles – usually other volunteer’s cars – and helping to distribute it to those in need either in Thetford or at Watton or Attleborough.
The volunteers I work with come from a variety of backgrounds, many have been helping for years and – I believe – take pride in knowing that they have made a difference in the lives of those in need and in helping to build a stronger, more connected community.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, click HERE to complete a quick form and we’ll be in touch.