For our second festive task of the week I visited our old friends East End Women’s Food Bank at Building Futures East. This was the first of two tasks we have there this week. Today I spent some time with one of the regular volunteers, Gary, sorting donated children’s books, stickers and activity packs into age groups. Later in the week these will be added to toys that Gary has already sorted to make Christmas presents for local children. It’s bittersweet to be able to contribute to such fantastic work making sure lots of children receive gifts at Christmas, while reflecting on the thought that such a service is needed.

Once the books were sorted I began to pack some food parcels. The East End Women’s food bank delivers LOTS of food parcels each week and GoodGym Newcastle members were proud to help out during the peak pandemic months. It didn’t take long for me to get back into the swing of it and it was nice to be able to include some Christmas treats!

I finished off with a quick hoover (difficult to get a hoovering selfie!) and task owner Dawn seemed happy with the progress. Personally, I’m a bit concerned that with festive tasks two days in a row I’m in danger of feeling the Christmas spirit before it’s even December!

If you’d like to join in part two of this task on Friday you can sign up here. Grinch warning: Christmas wrapping paper may be involved! Packing toy and food hampers for Building Futures East foodbank - Improve a family's Christmas