When Celia retired, she wasn’t looking for a rest, she was looking for purpose.

Having worked closely with community groups across Nottingham, Celia had a good awareness of FareShare Midlands before applying to volunteer. She saw first-hand the difference that surplus food can make - how it stretches tight budgets, brings people together and ensures no one has to skip meals. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she also spent long hours volunteering on a helpline supporting people struggling to access food.

So when she stepped away from full-time work, volunteering with FareShare Midlands felt like a natural next step.

“I was aware of how the food provided by FareShare Midlands benefitted the groups I worked with,” Celia explains. “After retiring, I missed being part of a team and was looking for voluntary work where I would work in partnership with other people.”

Making new friends at the Nottingham Depot

Working as a Warehouse Assistant at FareShare Midlands’ Nottingham depot, Celia quickly became a valued member of the team. From sorting and picking orders to navigating the freezer during large picks, she embraces the physical nature of the role.

“I enjoy being part of a team and the work certainly keeps me physically fit!” she says.

For Celia, it’s not just about the food, it’s about the people. After an illness left her deaf in one ear, Celia worried that she might not be as useful in a busy warehouse environment. “Once I got over my pride and told people I struggled to hear in some environments, everyone was extremely helpful,” she says.

There’s a strong sense of camaraderie, with volunteers helping each other locate items in the warehouse or lending a hand when a pick is particularly large.

“I love how everyone helps each other out,” she says. “We all volunteer for different reasons and come from varying backgrounds, but we work together so well. On the days I volunteer, we all break for coffee and lunch together.”

It’s over these coffee breaks that tips are shared, not just about warehouse life, but about reducing food waste at home too. “I didn’t know you could freeze eggs or houmous until other volunteers told me!”

In 2024, Celia was nominated by her fellow volunteers for an ‘Excellence in Volunteering’ award, something she describes as deeply touching.

“I was very touched when my colleagues nominated me,” she says. “The staff at Nottingham are so supportive of volunteers. They deserve recognition too.”

Going the Extra Mile

Celia’s commitment to making a difference doesn’t stop with her warehouse shift.

If food isn’t suitable for redistribution — like overripe bananas — she’ll take it home and transform it into cake for the next volunteering session. Tiff, Volunteer Engagement Officer at Nottingham says “Celia’s bakes are always delicious and make a nice treat for the other volunteers and staff on site that day!” Celia says she often experiments with new recipes based on whatever ingredients would otherwise have gone to waste, sharing her bakes not just at FareShare but at her other volunteering commitments too.

And there are many.

Celia volunteers with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Nottingham City Council on conservation projects. She walks dogs for the Cinnamon Trust, supporting people who are terminally ill or housebound. She serves as secretary of her local GP’s patients’ group, is a trustee of The Helen Loewenstein Memorial Trust - which funds midwife training in Liberia - and even contributes to Stapleford’s Yarnbombing Group, currently “frantically knitting little chickens” for post-box toppers!

Celia’s story is one of dedication, teamwork and impact. Whether she’s navigating the freezer, baking surplus ingredients into cake, or knitting chickens for a local yarnbombing display, she embodies the spirit of community that drives FareShare Midlands forward.

We’re incredibly proud that her fellow volunteers recognised her with an Excellence in Volunteering award in 2024, and even prouder to have her as part of our volunteering team.