09 Apr 2024
Hamelin has handed over hundreds of items to Billericay Foodbank following a donation drive.
Last year the charity, which supports autistic adults and people with learning disabilities, worked with the foodbank to make space available in its building in Radford Crescent to ensure it can continue to support those in need.
Since then, some of the people Hamelin supports have been volunteering once a week to gain life-skills experience and help the local community. They help foodbank volunteers sort through donations, check dates, and organise goods into relevant baskets ready for them to be distributed.
After seeing the difference the foodbank makes, the group decided to set up donation stations at the charity’s Billericay centre and encourage Hamelin staff and families to contribute much-needed items.
Hamelin support worker, Jade Cartey, who helped arrange the donation drive, said she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the response.
She said: “We know the Hamelin community is always extremely generous, and I’m really proud of our people for wanting to make a difference. The group really enjoy their time volunteering at the foodbank and it’s a fantastic way for them to build their teamwork, literacy and numeracy, communication, organisational, and critical thinking skills, whilst supporting our community at the same time.”
Stuart Gibbs, Billericay Foodbank trustee, said he was extremely grateful.
He said: “Hamelin is a fantastic supporter of the Foodbank and we thank everyone for their generosity. It has been great to work closely together to offer volunteering opportunities to the people the charity supports and give them the opportunity to develop their skills. It’s a testament to what can be achieved when two charities who have a shared vision of helping our community come together.”