We have a lovely relationship with Chesterfield Foodbank and Gussies Kitchen a nearby food pantry. It's happened because we went to see them and asked, “how can we help?”
Now this is what we do. Every Wednesday we go to Gussies and collect any surplus stuff. They talk to us about what we want to take and what we make with what ingredients we got. For example last week we got loads of eggs, spring onions and peppers. So we did a crustless quiche and served it with salad! We serve this to people who come to Monkey Park community centre. We had 12 people this week who came and shared a meal with us.
On a Thursday, Jemma, Reece and Jo go to Chesterfield foodbank. They take care of all the toiletries and put it all out and make it look good. When it comes in it’s boxes full of all different things and they separate it and put it in order. They unload the van. It’s meant volunteering opportunities helping to put the things out, put the food out and bag some of the food up – for example putting apples in a bag. And the foodbank are planning for more opportunities if we would like them.
It’s so lovely because they welcome us with open arms, want to hear what we have been up to and what we did with the ingredients. And we feel good about helping.
