Volunteer’s Week
As Volunteers’ Week comes to an end, we’re sharing more volunteer case studies of some of the amazing people who volunteer in our FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland warehouse.
We shared more volunteer case studies this week, including case studies of two volunteers from our Move On Wood Recycling workshop, and five more volunteers from our FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland warehouse.
Our FareShare service saves good quality surplus food from going to waste and redistributes it to our frontline charity partners working with the most vulnerable people in the community, including community centres, homeless hostels, young people’s projects and addiction agencies. The aim is to deliver a food service to those who need it most, including children, homeless people, older people, refugees and people suffering mental and physical health problems.
With over 50 regular volunteers in our FareShare warehouse, the volunteer case studies below are a small sample of the generous people at the heart of our FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland service.
Volunteer case studies
David
David is a cheeky chappie who loves a story and a laugh.
He’s primarily a volunteer driver but is often found in the warehouse helping out wherever he can. He very quickly proved that he can be trusted to get a job done and done well.
David has been volunteering with FareShare for over five months.
Over the last year David has logged 222 hours contributing to the distribution of 15,984 meals!
David says “I have really enjoyed my time at FareShare and helping people during the pandemic. The staff and fellow volunteers are so welcoming.”
Donnie
Donnie is quiet and unassuming at first glance, but a flash of that devilish grin gives away his wicked sense of humour.
He’s now part of the bricks and mortar of FareShare and the place wouldn’t be the same if he ever left us.
Donnie has been volunteering at FareShare for over three years.
Over the last year Donnie has logged 936 volunteer hours contributing to the distribution of 67,392 meals!
Donnie says “Volunteering at FareShare has been good for my mental health – not only does it keep me busy but I’m able to give back a bit to help others.”
Grant
Grant is a FareShare institution – if he ever left we might just have to shut the doors!
Over the years he’s transformed from being the quietest person in the room to a team leader and the go-to person for training young people in FareShare operations.
Grant has been volunteering with FareShare for five and a half years.
Over the last year Grant has logged 696 volunteering hours contributing to the distribution of 50,112 meal portions!
Grant says “I have learned so much during my time at FareShare which helped me gain employment, but I still come back when I can as the work they do is so rewarding.”
Jimmy
Jimmy is our white van man: every morning the bonnet is open and the engine is inspected meticulously in preparation for his daily deliveries. With Jimmy around there’s a real chance that Scotland will run out of screen-wash and AdBlue because it’s all in the FareShare vans!
Jimmy has been volunteering with FareShare for around 18 months
Over the last year Jimmy has logged 684 volunteer hours and has contributed to the distribution of 49,248 meal portions!
Jimmy says “I enjoy being out in the community and seeing the great work all the different charities we work with do.”
Susan
Susan is the angel on the shoulder of a lot of our volunteers. She loves to chat and generally makes the warehouse a more welcoming place. She recently secured employment but comes in and volunteers anytime she has a day off.
Susan has been volunteering with FareShare for just over a year.
Over the last year Susan has logged 624 volunteer hours contributing to the distribution of 44,928 meal portions!
Susan says “I stared volunteering during lockdown and stayed on due to the family atmosphere and the great work that everyone at FareShare does to improve lives.”
Volunteering opportunities
Our FareShare volunteers support our service in a variety of ways, including on the warehouse floor receiving deliveries, shelving stock, maintaining inventories and sorting orders; in the office answering phone calls, replying to emails, completing paperwork and welcoming visitors; or out in the community driving our vans and completing deliveries.
You can find more information about volunteering in our FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland here.
As part of a network of FareShare regional centres across the UK, if you’re interested in volunteering with FareShare but aren’t local to Glasgow, you can find your nearest FareShare regional centre on the FareShare UK website.
Find out more about the variety of volunteering opportunities we have available in Glasgow and Edinburgh, including mentoring, befriending and volunteering in our Move On Wood Recycling workshop.