Health staff help to feed the most needy in our city
FRONTLINE hospital staff who were supported by the public at the start of the coronavirus pandemic have decided to “give something back” by helping to feed needy families across Nottingham.
City nurse Matt Bodell, along with four colleagues at the Nottingham Universities Hospitals NHS Trust, arranged a huge collection for the Trussell Trust, which supports more than 1,200 foodbanks across the country.
They managed to fill 14 roll cages as part of the Great Big NUH Foodbank campaign.
Mr Bodell, who works across the Queen’s Medical Centre and the City Hospital sites, teamed up with Vicky Malia, Steph Knowles, Richard Smith and Clare Eaglesfield, who work in various roles across the trust, to arrange the donation.
Back in March and April, at the start of the first coronavirus lockdown, the Nottingham public supported frontline NHS staff in a number of ways.
The city’s hackney cab drivers offered free rides to frontline workers and, according to Mr Bodell, “we were inundated with things like Easter eggs and free pizza and all sorts of things”.
Inspired by the Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford, who has been widely praised for highlighting the issue of food poverty, hospital staff decided that it was time to give something back to Nottingham folk.
Mr Bodell, who lives in Hucknall, said: “They [Trussell Trust] did not want pasta or rice because they have already got a sufficient supply for the next few months.
“They wanted things like tinned fruit, tinned vegetables and cereals like porridge which are staples of your diet really.”
Of the huge donation, Mr Bodell said: “I think we kind of expected maybe a couple of roll cages, 14 was beyond our hopes really, and made me incredibly proud to work at the hospital I work at.
“It embodies the kindness and generosity and thoughtfulness of all our colleagues.”
Mr Bodell, a hospital at night coordinator, added: “We, as a group, did not think it’s acceptable that anybody in the 21st century should be short of food - that is sort of what was a big motivator.”
After the food was held in quarantine for 72 hours, donations were transported to a foodbank warehouse and distribution centre in part of the city.
Mr Bodell said: “That is their warehouse for the Nottinghamshire area. What they did was sort through and distribute to areas most in need, to make sure that the help is focused.”
Toiletries and cordial were also donated to the cause.
Mr Bodell added: “The staff have done the hard work here, they are the amazing ones really by donating.”
We did not think it’s acceptable that anybody in the 21st century should be short of food. Matt Bodell