For over 10 years it has been my absolute privilege to run Slough Foodbank as the project manager. It has been a time full of every emotion, huge growth, rising need, many changes and physical hard work. I feel blessed to have been able to facilitate getting over 46,000 food parcels to those in need and to have heard the, oftentimes harrowing, stories of those who came for help. I never expected food banks to still be necessary after so many years and have campaigned hard to end the need. Sadly food poverty is greater now than ever before and shows no signs of abating.
For me it is time to slow down and spend more time on the things and people I also value in my life. I am so looking forward to retirement.
I am very happy to be handing over to the wonderful Laura Cole. In the short few weeks we have had together I am convinced that she is the right person for the job. Sharing the same ideals, ethics and heart for the charity as I have had. Laura will lead into the new era and my hope is that she will see the end for the need for food banks soon. I wish her all the very best in this special role.
Updates and changes are overdue and, therefore, inevitable after 2 years of the pandemic and my long sickness absence. However the ethos remains the same; to help prevent food poverty in our area with compassion, discretion and integrity.
To all of our wonderful volunteers I offer huge thanks for all the support, loyalty, time and hard work to achieve all of the above. You are, and have always been, the lifeblood of all we do.
I would also like to thank all those referral partners, charities, other food banks, companies, organisations, churches, schools and other faith groups with whom I have worked over the years for helping us to do what we set out to do – support the local community.
Finally, words cannot express my heartfelt gratitude to the Slough community which has so generously donated the food, funds, equipment etc that has allowed Slough Foodbank to share your compassion within the community.
Fond regards,
Sue