FareShare Slices 1 - Help us stay Covid-19 safe Take me home, don't share me
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FareShare Slices
Summer 2019 1
A healthy slice of FareShare volunteer news
Issue 10
Summer 2021
Help us stay
Covid-19 safe
Take me
home, don’t
share me
2 3
Hello...
Summer 2021
As we approach summer we have been taking the
opportunity to celebrate volunteering at all of
our FareShare sites. In June we had Volunteers’
Keeping safe
Week, a fantastic time to pause and celebrate the
contribution volunteers make to FareShare. Take a
look at page 6 to see how this was celebrated across
at FareShare
the network.
Hannah Feld
Although many social distancing measures are easing
In September we’ll be holding the FareShare Volunteer and many of us have had at least one vaccine, it’s
Awards. While the Volunteer Awards itself will focus on a small important we continue to be safe and look out for
group of individuals, the awards are also a tribute to the incredible one another. We take the wellbeing and safety of our
contribution that every volunteer in our network makes to the work of volunteers very seriously.
FareShare. Look out for more information about the awards from your
Volunteer Manager and hear all about the winners in the October
issue of this magazine. Nominations have now closed but it’s never There continue to be extra safety protocols to reduce the risk
too early to start thinking about who you’ll nominate next year.
In of transmitting Covid-19 and help halt the spread of the new,
more contagious Coronavirus strain. We are asking our staff and
In this issue we hear about how FareShare food supports remote
communities in Wales with the Gellideg Foundation Group this volunteers to please do the following:
• Wear a face mask.
in Merthyr Tydfil, on pages 8-9. On page 10 we hear from
Toqueer, who is making a difference to his community by issue • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow (not
your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
volunteering at FareShare Midlands.
3
Keeping safe • Put used tissues in the bin immediately.
at FareShare • Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
As always, if you have a story that you’d like to • Do not attend a volunteering session if you or a member of
4
submit to be in the magazine, please get in your household have had Covid-19 symptoms or have tested
touch, we’d love to hear from you. Network news
positive for Covid-19 in the past 10 days.
6
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth or any food if your
Hannah Feld Volunteers Week hands are not clean.
Senior Volunteering Development Officer
volunteering@fareshare.org.uk • Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and often.
020 7394 2462 Sandvale Trust volunteer wins
Marcus Rashford’s Boots 7 Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
8
The Gellideg Foundation are bringing people When you come into the warehouse you will now see:
together through food • Information about local safety measures
• Information on how to clean your hands properly
10
and when they should be cleaned
Toqueer is making a difference in the • Suitable soaps and hand sanitisers that kill the virus.
Midlands
A note on the haulage driver shortage 11 If you have any questions, concerns or feedback about these
procedures please talk to your shift lead or regional volunteer
Two minutes with...Robert
This magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper
12 manager. You can also email volunteering@fareshare.org.uk.
4 FareShare Slices Summer 2021 5
Looking Full Time Meals helps families get cooking for a healthy
ahead to the start
Volunteer
FareShare Ambassador Healthy Start scheme
Awards
Marcus Rashford MBE (known as Best Start
The UK-wide has teamed up with Foods in Scotland),
FareShare chef Tom Kerridge which offers food and
Volunteer Awards for a new initiative vitamin vouchers for
are happening for called Full Time pregnant people or
the second time Meals. Supporting the those with children
this September. #EndChildFoodPoverty under four. You can
There will be an Taskforce, the Full Time find more information
online awards Meals team release on the Healthy Start
presentation to Artist donates issues of his Corona a new recipe every NHS website, or the
celebrate winners week for meals that Scottish Government’s
Diaries to a FareShare volunteer are mega-tasty, super- FareShare’s website, for Benefits and Grant’s
from across 10
categories. Please FareShare supporter sales of the diaries filling, and inexpensive recipes. website.
look out for more and Artist, Vic Lee, is to FareShare. Please to make. Check out The recipes utilise many
information from offering one set of email volunteering@ @FullTimeMeals ingredients that can
your Volunteer signed editions of his fareshare.org.uk on Instagram, or be bought through the
Manager closer to two graphic diaries to with your name and
the time. a FareShare volunteer. Regional Centre name
The diaries capture the to be in with a chance
events of the pandemic of winning. Go to
as they happened coronadiary2020.com Fantastic Fundraisers
across the UK in to take a look at the
2020. Vic donated diaries. FareShare North East
a proportion of the volunteers have been
busy raising funds for
their Regional Centre.
John Bower braved
Tesco Food Collection a sponsored skydive
along with a member
Tesco ran a special Food that we normally
of staff from the team
Collection this July to help provide them with. Look
and a member of one
provide extra long-life out for the food arriving
of their CFMs. David
food such as cereal and in your sites soon. The
Grainger, another
tins. The food will support next collection will be at the end of July. FareShare North
volunteer at FareShare
the FareShare network happening towards Both are undertaking East. Thank you both
North East is planning
of warehouses to provide the end of the year. these challenges for your incredible
to cycle from Land’s
our partner charities and Speak to your Volunteer to raise money for contribution!
End to John O’Groats
community groups much Manager if you’d like
needed long-life food to to volunteer in store to
supplement the surplus support it.
6 FareShare Slices Summer 2021 7
Each year, Volunteers’ Week is celebrated from the
1-7 June by charities across the UK, as a chance to
thank volunteers and celebrate the contribution Sandale Trust
volunteer wins Marcus
they make in their communities.
This year we particularly wanted to highlight the
huge impact volunteers have had at FareShare
during our crisis response to the pandemic.
Rashford’s boots
Between the start of April 2020 and the end of Thirteen-year-old Jake,
the youngest volunteer As Andy explains: “Jake
March 2021, FareShare redistributed more than at Bradford charity wasn’t aware of the
fifty-five thousand tonnes of food. That equates Sandale Trust, got the nomination initially,
to an average of four meals every second to surprise of a lifetime so I was keen to put a
when he learned he’d plan in place to award
vulnerable people. This is an incredible achievement been awarded a pair of him them and celebrate
that could not have been reached without the help limited edition Marcus his achievement. What
of our volunteers. Rashford boots. better way to do this
but on the football pitch
Sandale Trust supports following his match! All
Volunteers’ week is always a special time local people to make his peers and family were
to highlight volunteering, but we especially positive changes in their there and everyone was
communities. They’ve and conversation and at super excited – there
wanted to recognise the volunteers who have been accessing surplus times he called up to 15 might have also been a
helped FareShare during such an important time. food through FareShare people a day. He received few tears!”
Go and FareShare amazing feedback and
Without you we could not have stepped up to the
Yorkshire since 2015. people really looked Neither Sandale nor
challenges the past year has brought our way. Since the start of the forward to hearing his Jake plan on stopping
pandemic the Trust has cheery voice, making a anytime soon: “Jake
delivered over 10,000 huge difference to their is so grateful and the
Thank you. food parcels. day and wellbeing.” boots take pride and
place in a glass cabinet
Andy, CEO at Sandale, Marcus Rashford in his room! There was
said: “In the height of donated a pair of his a lot of persuasion to
the pandemic, Jake special edition boots to a stop him kicking a ball
spent most of his free Crowdfunder Prize Draw in them. Jake continues
time helping his mum in support of FareShare to volunteer and is
and the team deliver and Trussell Trust, as he even more dedicated to
parcels for the Holiday continued his powerful helping out these days,
Hunger scheme and he campaign against food but his inspiration is still
was also a Telephone poverty. The winner very Marcus Rashford and his
Befriender. This involved kindly donated them aspiration is to become a
FareShare Midlands volunteers Nadine FareShare Merseyside Liz, Volunteer Manager for FareShare calling isolated older back to be passed on to a footballer just like him!”
and Carol enjoy some fish and chips volunteers were treated to Greater Manchester, shows off her ‘Thank people for company deserving young person.
a cake and coffee morning you” sign made of recycled fruit and veg
8 FareShare Slices Summer 2021 9
The Gellideg Foundation
are bringing people
together through food
“Food is a way of start of the pandemic, sure they don’t have
bringing people the Gellideg Foundation to sacrifice their health
together and creating has run a Community to focus on their other
communities,” says Helen Pantry with 160 priorities.”
Buhaenko, Manager of households as members,
the Gellideg Foundation reaching between 400- Merthyr Tydfil is one
Group (GFG) in Merthyr 500 people each week. of the least populated
Tydfil, Wales. boroughs in Wales.
Like in many smaller
Founded in 1998 by communities, even prior
residents of the social to Covid, residents often
housing estate where faced greater challenges
Gellideg is based, the getting hold of fresh
GFG offers a wide range food: “There’s a limited
of services aimed at range of food locally. We
empowering residents, only have one or two
improving their health shops and it’s very hard
and well-being, and to get fresh fruit and
developing innovative veg, dairy products are access, as Helen explains: are able to introduce without FareShare, this
strategies to combat very basic as well – just “It’s not just that it’s new fruit and vegetables model just doesn’t work
poverty. milk and butter. If you food – it’s the range to their children and I without FareShare food.
don’t have transport to of different foods and think a lot of them are It’s expanded our remit
Food has long been a “People are juggling get to the shops further the premium quality. quite surprised at how as a charity, helping
part of the GFG’s work their needs,” explains away it’s very difficult to The fresh fruit and veg much their children enjoy us reach people who
and for about three Helen, “they have to pay have much range in your is fantastic as well as trying new things!” previously were quite
years they’ve been utilities, rent, and food diet.” the fridge items like isolated. It’s not just
working with FareShare at a time when their mozzarella and quark. FareShare has helped about food, it’s about
to help provide cooking incomes have been cut. The range of fresh, It makes it so that it’s them step up their communicating with the
workshops, meals, People often cut down high-quality food that not financially punitive response to meet the community through this
and care packages to on food first because FareShare is able to to experiment and try increased demand, not pantry model.”
supplement activities it’s easier – either the supply has helped the new things. People don’t only with the town of
such as dance or exercise volume or the quality. So, GFG provide healthy, normally get to access Merthyr Tydfil but across
classes, and help to draw by helping them access varied options that such healthy, interesting the whole borough. As
more people into the food we’re lightening many people would foods so it’s expanding Helen explains: “This
GFG’s Centre. Since the the load and making otherwise not be able to their palettes. Parents would be impossible
10 FareShare Slices Summer 2021 11
Toqueer is making a A note on the haulage
difference in the Midlands driver shortage
“I just want people to wanted to do was You may have ensure that we are
know that FareShare actually see these noticed some able to continue
is for everyone,” says things for myself, to changes in your supplying food to
Toqueer, a volunteer see how charities like warehouses as frontline charities.
at FareShare’s West FareShare help people. the HGV driver We are also putting
Midlands warehouse Volunteering with shortage impacts out local appeals
who originally joined FareShare has been a our ability to for retired drivers
us through the British really amazing journey. redistribute surplus who may be able to
Red Cross Community I’ve made friends and food as quickly as help.
Reserve Volunteer it’s made me more usual and, in some
program. aware of the different cases, forces us to As FareShare CEO
issues that affect restrict volumes. Lindsay Boswell
“My passion is to help people.” said, “FareShare
people and make a people’s perceptions Haulage drivers is used to dealing
difference,” explains of his community: “It’s great to see so are currently not with fluctuations
Toqueer, “I care about “People don’t usually many people from classed as key in the amount
food poverty and the see somebody from diverse backgrounds workers, and many of surplus food
environment. I like that my background as a coming to volunteer and of the EU nationals received from the
FareShare supports volunteer in mainstream make a difference to the who once occupied We know our volunteers food industry each
local people in need media as much. I hope community,” continues these roles have now are driven by their week, and the charities
in Birmingham with that by talking about Toqueer, “It really show left the UK. As a result passion to help people we serve are used to
this really good quality my experience, it’ll you the friendships there is now a shortage and fight food waste, making allowances for
food. It’s not only food inspire other people to that can blossom from of tens of thousands of and we understand that changes in the quantity
poverty but also the get involved too. working with such kind- lorry drivers across the reports of this shortage and type of food they
fact that so much in this hearted and like-minded UK. This is impacting causing good food to be receive. We remain keen
country goes to waste. “I love making a people.” not only FareShare but wasted when it could to receive all offers of
If it can go to make a difference to the the food industry as a have been distributed food and are working
difference to families community by being If you know someone whole. On average we to people may be hard to find alternative
instead, that’s just a active about the that you think would would normally expect to distressing. We want solutions.”
wonderful cause.” environment and enjoy volunteering at receive between 150-160 to reassure you that,
social issues,” Toqueer FareShare, why not tonnes of food per day though the situation is We have nearly 11,000
Toqueer is British- continues, “I know tell them about your across the UK. Currently serious, all across the charities across the UK
Kashmiri, and is about the impact of volunteering and we’re down to under 100 UK we are working hard counting on us and we
keen to share his things like plastic and encourage them to tonnes per day, a 30% with food partners and intend to rise to this
story and broaden waste. What I really apply? reduction. local organisations to challenge for them.
12
Two minutes with... Robert
Each issue, we’ll be finding out more
about one of our amazing volunteers.
This time, we’ve got Robert from
FareShare Northern Ireland.
What is your volunteer role?
Driver
Why do you volunteer at FareShare?
I initially volunteered when I retired early, to
give something back as I had spare time on
my hands, I then restarted my own business
and have continued to volunteer one day
each week, I now consider it as an enjoyable
hobby on my day away from work.
Which living person do you most admire
and why?
President Obama, I felt he was a sincere and
trustworthy leader and admired him.
What do you consider your greatest
achievement and why?
My hardware business which provides a
service in the local area and has been so
helpful to people particularly during the last
year when they took a greater interest in
their outdoor space.
What’s your favourite to have on toast?
Cheese
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