“Even a few hours a week can make a real difference to someone’s life”
LISA BROWN, 44, IS THE DIRECTOR OF A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. SHE LIVES IN MORDEN, SURREY WITH HER HUSBAND AND TWO TEENAGE DAUGHTERS. SHE SAYS:
THREE NIGHTS A WEEK YOU’LL FIND ME IN A GAZEBO AT THE BACK OF SUTTON TRAIN STATION, VOLUNTEERING AT THE SUTTON NIGHT
WATCH HOMELESS CHARITY.
I MIGHT BE DISHING UP A BOWL OF WARMING SOUP, PACKING BAGS OF FOOD FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY, OR SOURCING SOMEONE A NEW SLEEPING BAG AFTER THEIR LAST ONE GOT SOAKED THROUGH.
THEY MAY BE JUST SMALL THINGS, BUT THEY HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO SOMEONE’S LIFE, AND IT’S THAT WHICH HAS KEPT ME RETURNING WEEK AFTER WEEK SINCE 2015.
WHEN I SAW AN AD ON FACEBOOK LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP RUN A NEW FOOD BANK AND SOUP KITCHEN IN MY AREA, I KNEW INSTANTLY I WANTED TO BE INVOLVED.
I’M NATURALLY A NURTURER, I GET A LOT OF PLEASURE FROM LOOKING AFTER PEOPLE, AND AS SAD AS IT WAS THAT MY AREA NEEDED A FOOD BANK, I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE PEOPLE RELIANT ON IT.
I WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL VOLUNTEERS AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE BECOME A REGISTERED CHARITY, WITH ME AS A DIRECTOR. I WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING, I WANTED TO GIVE A BIT MORE OF MY TIME TO IT.
THERE’S NO QUICK FIX TO THE PROBLEMS WE ENCOUNTER, BUT WE’VE HELPED PEOPLE FIND HOUSING, JOBS AND JUST KNOWING SOMEONE HAS A FULL STOMACH AND HAS
HAD A FRIENDLY CHAT AFTER A DAY ALONE ON THE STREETS GIVES ME A LOT OF SATISFACTION.
THE CHARITY IS RUN ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEERS, AND WE SUPPORT ONE
ANOTHER BECAUSE OF COURSE IT CAN BE HEARTBREAKING AT TIMES, BUT MY ROLE
ALSO HELPS ME KEEP ANY TROUBLES AND STRESSES IN MY OWN LIFE PERSPECTIVE
SO I REALLY FEEL I BENEFIT TOO.
LIKE TO HELP A FOOD BANK? THE TRUSSELL TRUST IS A 400-STRONG NETWORK OF FOOD BANKS. FIND YOUR NEAREST
ONE AT TRUSSELLTRUST.ORG