Stratford Foodbank on the Hunt for Volunteers
In the wake of recent growing demand, Stratford’s Foodbank is looking for some very special volunteers. These new recruits will join the existing ‘front line’ team leaders to oversee food distribution sessions. Suitable candidates must be good listeners, capable of leading a small team, have a passion for helping those in crisis and cope well under pressure. New Team Leaders must be available twice a month to oversee one or two distribution sessions held on a Tuesday and Friday 12pm to 2pm, and at a new ‘Twilight’ session on a Thursday evening launching as of June 1st. Distribution sessions are held at the Foodbank’s portacabin on the carpark next to the Tesco on the Birmingham Road.
Foodbank Manager Marion Homer said “We are very fortunate – we already have a tremendously dedicated group of front line team leaders. But, with our new Thursday session starting in June, and to cover the holiday season we could do with one or two more. Being a foodbank volunteer is tremendously rewarding and we are a friendly and active team. Regrettably, our distribution session have been very busy. During the months of March and February we fed an average of 188 people per month, 13 of which identified as homeless. Our volunteers make all our visitors feel as welcome as possible and a cup of tea and a listening ear is always available. The red foodbank voucher, proving eligibility for support and given to the client by a referral partner such as the CAB or community health worker, is discreetly checked and the food parcel made up. Parcels can be for a single person, a couple or a family, and are tinned and packaged items and designed to provide 3 days’ worth of food. Where possible dietary requirements are taken into account, and all parcels are collated according to nutritional guidelines laid down by the Trussell Trust.”
For more information about this volunteering opportunity, please email [email protected] for a full role description.
