The last few weeks have been especially busy for food banks in the Trussell Trust network as the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold. In the first two weeks of the pandemic, food banks in our network distributed a shocking 6,250 emergency food parcels every day, with 3,000 of these each day provided for children.
This isn’t right. As we work towards a future where everyone can afford their own food, it’s vital that our network continues to provide this essential community service.
And it’s volunteers that make this service possible.
Thanks to them, people in their communities are able to access the support they need, which is more important than ever during these unprecedented times. The resilience, commitment, and passion shown by volunteers across the Trussell Trust network are truly inspiring. This Volunteers Week, we wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to all the volunteers who keep our network running and share some stories from food banks.
Together, we can make a real difference to the lives of people in crisis. Together, we can stand strong in the face of adversity. Together, we know this can change.
Meet Pat, a volunteer for one of the Trussell Trust’s shops in Salisbury…
Pat joined as a volunteer almost three years ago after losing her husband of 58 years. Looking for something to do where she could make a real difference, she found the Trussell Trust – and the rest is history!
Our Social Enterprise Manager says:
“Her friendly and happy demeanour make her a total joy to work alongside. The support she gives is second to none, and her confidence and competence within her volunteering role has grown enormously, making her a great ambassador for new volunteers and a big asset to the team.
“She says it keeps her active, gives her purpose and that she doesn’t know what she’d do without it. We highly value all of our volunteers, and having people like Pat working alongside you makes our jobs even more fulfilling.”
…and the volunteers at Shepway Foodbank – all 73 of them!
Shepway Foodbank runs three distribution centres and a warehouse on the south east coast of England. Their Foodbank Manager explains the value of their volunteers:
“I started my new job as Foodbank Manager on 2 March 2020. I was just learning how everything worked and suddenly I had to adapt the model to the ‘COVID curveball’. That’s where my amazing volunteers come in.
“In total, there are 73 volunteers, aged between 30 and 83. The volunteers that were able to continue during the pandemic all stepped up and pulled together to work out how we would move forward. Without my team of volunteers behind me, we simply would not have been able to continue to supply food to people in need in our community. It was their dogged determination and hard work that allowed this to happen and I am so very grateful to them.
“Every one of my volunteers deserves a gold medal for the commitment and support they have shown to Shepway Foodbank, our community, and me personally. To each of them, I would like to say a massive thank you and to tell them they are my true heroes.”
