Dedicated Richard helps to keep the Food Train running
A Paisley volunteer has shared a photo diary of a day in the life of his charity work to encourage others to join in.
Richard Dunne is part of the team of volunteers at Food Train in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, helping with grocery collections and deliveries.
He has shared a photo diary of a typical shift and spoken of the impact that the charity has in a bid to encourage others to join its crew across the region.
The Paisley man has been a volunteer for seven years, mainly as part of the in-store team at Morrisons, Anchor Mills, but also heading out on deliveries.
Food Train, which has responded to consistently high demand for its delivery operation since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, is currently making more than 100 shopping deliveries each week to older people.
Richard, 32, volunteers three mornings a week - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
Most days he helps organise the volunteer shoppers collecting groceries from lists collected weekly from older members aged 65 and over.
Between 7am and 9.30am, they collect the items on each person’s list, ensuring they have the food they need to eat well and live well in their own homes, before boxing up the shopping and loading it onto vans, ready for delivery.
Then the team hits the road to make sure that older people have all that they need - delivering their shopping as well as giving them a chance to have a blether.
Richard said: “It’s great when you get the chance to be part of the delivery team and meet the older people we’re supporting.
“They’re always so pleased to see you and appreciative of what we’re able to do.
“Just speaking to people as you drop off their shopping can make a real difference. We might be the only people they see that day, so it makes them feel less lonely.
“Some older people just wouldn’t be able to get their shopping without us. Many wouldn’t be able to live in their own homes if it wasn’t for the service that Food Train provides and the work that all of the volunteers do.”
And Richard says it’s not just the older people who have their shopping delivered by Food Train who feel the benefit of the organisation’s work.
“It makes you feel good as a volunteer to know that you’re helping older people as well,” he added.
“It’s great working with the other volunteers as well. “We have a really nice bunch of people as part of the team in Paisley who are great to chat away with as you do the work.”
And in a message to other potential volunteers, he said: “It need only be for a couple of hours a week. It’s really enjoyable, worthwhile work and you’ll feel good for doing it.”
Volunteers are supported locally by Stephen McGinty, Food Train’s regional manager for Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire.
He said: “The work that our volunteers do is tremendous. “Our members are so grateful for the time they give. “We can’t thank them enough. A small amount of time makes a huge difference to the lives of older people in our communities.”
Anyone interested in volunteering to support the work of Food Train can call 0141 887 2557 for more details. To find out more, visit www.thefoodtrain.co.uk
Food Train is also encouraging businesses across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire to support its work through its BOXtober campaign this month, with the opportunity to support each of its individual delivery boxes.
For more details, go to www.thefoodtrain.co.uk/ sponsor-a-box