Volunteer blog: The joys of being a foodbank delivery driver

Our small army of volunteers are the driving force behind our efforts to end hunger across Worcester. In this blog post, broadcaster and author Chris Green shares his experiences of being a volunteer delivery driver and how it has provided a good workout for his mind and body. 

Never assume. It’s not a bad metaphor for life.

When I first volunteered to work on deliveries for Worcester Foodbank during the Covid lockdown in 2020, I assumed it would just be a matter of loading the car with food packages and heading to destinations to drop them off. Sorted.

What I didn’t factor in was people – both the folks you work with and those in need. Back then in slightly less regulated times, I partnered with my 18-year-old son Nick. I drove, he delivered. Moreover, aside from the essential food we delivered, in those socially isolating lockdown times, he was a frequent friendly face to foodbank clients who seemed sometimes to value his company as much as the food parcels being dropped off.

Patience is a virtue.

For Nick, back then, about to leave sixth form and head to uni, interacting with people was a useful life skill. Learning to listen to their situation and, if needed, feed it back to the relevant referral agency, was invaluable to getting a wider handle on how people were (or weren’t) coping with lockdown and, longer term, to see how, maybe, some of the gaps they appeared to be falling through might be plugged.

When I retired earlier this year, I once again volunteered to become a foodbank delivery driver. These days there are tighter DBS style rules. A male driver must be accompanied by a female rather than a fellow male although two females can go out together.

So, on alternate Mondays, I head to various points for Worcester with my new delivery partner, Patricia (Trish), who is an experienced foodbank deliverer and serial volunteer for many organisations in Worcester. She’s also a great student of the human condition possibly without realising it.

She’ll often spark a conversation with foodbank clients – not to be unduly nosy or in search of unnecessary thanks (as if that’s ever needed!) – but to check they are alright, sometimes with an observation about the food in the parcels, not least if there’s a treat for a child, pet food or a seasonal speciality provided by generous donors.

Occasionally, these conversations reveal other problems. Taking time to listen is so important, not to sympathise but to empathise.

Life is always clearer when you can put yourself in someone else’s shoes. I’ve met people who assume foodbank clients who can’t collect food parcels are unwilling to help themselves. That’s far from the case. Meeting people face to face in their domain is vital to attain a fuller, more rounded understanding. Their stories and their situation really does make you think ‘there but for the grace of God go I’.

Moreover, Trish is good company. We have some fascinating conversations on our various routes and back.

And there’s another, maybe unexpected, advantage of being a foodbank delivery driver. Hauling all those bags around is good physical exercise. I come home feeling nicely tired. A workout while doing good – what’s not to like?

So, if you’re intrigued about being a foodbank delivery driver – why not give it a go?

If you like meeting people, interacting with similar kind hearts and minds, feeling good by doing good and getting some physical exercise in the process it might just be the voluntary role for you.

Interested in getting behind the wheel and becoming a volunteer delivery driver, like Chris? Read more on how to get involved. 

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