Food for thought

By Ben Barry

The National lockdown back in March laid bare the struggles faced by families all over the country. I wanted to do something to help, so I started volunteering at my local food bank. I thought it would really make a difference, in a time when everyone is struggling.

Watching the news every day and seeing the struggles vulnerable families were going through, I didn’t want to sit back and do nothing. I wanted to look back at this pandemic and know that I did something to help, I did something to make someone’s life that bit better.

Volunteering at the food bank has made me realise how lucky I am and to see people who are less fortunate than me, it really made me think about how I live my life.

My role at the food bank was to package the food up before they get sent out to families, so I would be given a shopping list and I’d go around the warehouse packaging up items for people. Just like what personal shoppers would do in the supermarket.

I’ve really enjoyed volunteering for the food bank, it’s given me that sense of purpose during the pandemic.