Volunteer day leaves food for thought

Staff from Newbury Building Society’s Alton branch spent the day at Alton Foodbank on Wednesday 13 April 2016 as part of the Society’s community programme.

The Society’s staff are given the opportunity to make a difference by volunteering for a good cause in their local area; Julie Pink and Caroline Seymour chose the non-profit, charitable organisation that distributes food to those in need in the Alton area. Schools, churches, businesses and individuals donate non-perishable food to the foodbank, which is checked by volunteers to ensure it’s in date before being packed into boxes ready to be given to those in need.

Julie and Caroline helped the Food Bank with their annual stock take, which involved weighing all food donations, logging the weight and sorting foods into expiry dates.  

Julie Pink, Office Manager at the Society’s Alton branch, said: “Today was an eye opener. Thirteen million people live below the poverty line in the UK; many facing the stark choice of either heating their homes or feeding their children.

“Each month the foodbank has a list on its website, detailing food items that are low in stock. This month it is coffee and long life fruit juice, which many of us take for granted. If we all supported our local food banks, donating just one item a week from our weekly shop, it would make a big difference.”