Food bank issues urgent appeal for volunteers

Hackney Foodbank volunteers from top left to right: John Guest and Betty Manning, Jonathan Gabriel, Judie Grant, Sheila Delaney

Hackney Foodbank volunteers from bottom left to right we have: Ari Sawyers, Isaac Ramsay, Tuyet Mac, Louis Bhose

Fancy a weekly workout with a difference? Hackney Foodbank urgently needs more volunteers.

The charity, which provides emergency food parcels for around 500 people per week, needs volunteers to help in its warehouse and at food distribution centres throughout Hackney.

You’d need to spare around three hours per week, be strong (there’s a fair amount of lifting), compassionate and kind and passionate about helping people.

Tanya Whitfield, Head of Services at Hackney Foodbank, said: “Volunteering for us is good for the soul and it’s a great workout. In the warehouse, the volunteers need to be able to lift 24-kilos so it would suit someone without any back problems.

“There’s lots of banter here – our team is so warm and, as well as helping create a hunger-free Hackney, setting aside a few hours a week to volunteer is a great way to meet people.”

The food bank, which is based in Hoxton, also needs occasional weekend volunteers to help organise bulk donations. Volunteer numbers dwindled a little as people returned to work post-pandemic.

Warehouse volunteers are needed Monday to Friday, 8.30am-11.30am or 12pm-3pm.  Distribution centres are open in Hoxton (Mondays 11am-1pm), Dalston (Tuesdays 11am-1pm), Clapton (Wednesdays 5pm-6.45pm), Stoke Newington (Thursdays 12pm-2.30pm) Pembury (Fridays 6pm-8pm) and Haggerston (Saturdays 10am-12pm).

To apply, fill out this application form here.

For more information, contact Ayshea@hackneyfoodbank.org or head to our volunteer vacancies here.