The family devoting thousands of hours to Hackney food bank
This Volunteers’ Week Hackney Foodbank is celebrating Marva Ledwidge and her children Clive and Hannah who have devoted thousands of hours to helping people in poverty.
Marva has been volunteering with the charity for more than a decade, Clive for around seven years and Hannah since lockdown. The family help run the food bank’s distribution centre in Stoke Newington.
Pat Fitzsimons, CEO of Hackney Foodbank, said: “The Ledwidge family are inspirational – Marva has been with us since the start and she, Clive and Hannah are amazing at organising things and making sure people get the help they need. They are so compassionate and adept at putting our visitors at ease. We need many more volunteers and I hope their story might inspire others to join us.”
When she’s not volunteering, Hannah is a professional drummer and she Clive also run an events company, which Marva cooks for. They each devote an average of three hours per week to the food bank.
Clive said: “For me volunteering at the food bank is just something that needs to be done – there will always be people in society who need help; I do what I can. I do have a faith and that influences what I do.
“If you’ve a motivation to help people and can treat people as you’d want to be treated; volunteering is a great thing to do. You don’t need any special skills! I’ve made a few good friends through the food bank.”
Marva worked as a nurse before retiring to care for her husband. In her spare time, she runs a breakfast club for homeless people and a coffee morning.
She said: “When I first started, I was joined by my youngest daughter Rebecca. My sister Glynis and nephew Jordan have also volunteered with us before. That’s how we are as a family – if someone needs help, we will all come along.
“Loads of people who volunteer with us didn’t know that Clive and I were mother and son – we don’t really talk about it; when we’re there we’re just focused on helping people.”
Volunteers' Week takes place from June 1 and celebrates the contribution millions of people make through volunteering.
Marva, who has devoted well over 1,500 hours to volunteering, added: “It's is great life experience. You learn how to deal with people you’ve never met before – you learn a lot. Sometimes teenagers don’t know how blessed they are. Volunteering gives you really useful perspective.”
Hackney Foodbank is currently reaching around 650 people per week. They’re based in Hoxton.
Warehouse volunteers are needed Monday to Friday, 8.30am-11.30am or 12pm-3pm. Food distribution centres are open in Hoxton (Mondays 11am-1pm), Dalston (Tuesdays 11am-1pm), Clapton (Wednesdays 5pm-6.45pm), Stoke Newington (Thursdays 12pm-2.30pm) Pembury (Fridays 6pm-8pm) and Haggerston (Saturdays 10am-12pm). Drivers are needed Monday to Saturday - daytime and evenings.
To volunteer, please visit https://www.hackney.foodbank.org.uk/volunteer and fill in the application form.
ENDS
Editor’s Notes
Hackney Foodbank recently marked its 10th anniversary. They are part of a national network of foodbanks supported by the Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger in the UK.
They’re currently giving out around 650 food parcels per week (each parcel can contain enough food for a family for a few days). They operate from a warehouse in Hoxton (The Florence Bennett Centre) and have distribution points across Hackney.
For further information or to arrange an interview with Pat Fitzsimons, please contact Jenna Fansa on 07812 245118.
Picture caption: Family devoted to Hackney Foodbank: Clive, Marva and Hannah Ledwidge (left to right).