Gold Food August: Volunteer
The #GoldFoodCambridge campaign aims to mobilise everyone in our city towards becoming a Gold Sustainable Food City by 2024. This month we spotlight the vital work of volunteers working across the city to grow, cook, share and distribute food and save surplus from going to waste.
Why volunteer?
Volunteering makes a huge difference to our local communities and the planet. By supporting the community you can be an agent of change and make your patch of the world a happier, greener and healthier place. From meeting new people to improving physical and mental health, volunteers Sarah and Guilaine highlight why they love supporting local community food projects.
Sarah’s story:
"I have been volunteering with CSF CIC at the Buchan Street centre since March 2022. Volunteering at the hub has indeed been an eye-opener to the inequality that exists in Cambridge and I feel privileged to be able to help CSF staff on a regular basis, whether that be sorting supermarket surplus and CoFarm produce for redistribution to local hubs or putting together food parcels for families - there is always plenty to do!
I was fortunate to attend the Food Justice in Cambridge: Beyond the Pandemic conference recently hosted by the City Council and helped to promote a climate-friendly diet on the CSF CIC-run stall at the Chesterton festival. I’m excited to see how we as a city can better manage food waste and deliver food justice for all."
Guilaine's story:
"Hello, I am Guilaine. My love for growing stuff naturally led me to volunteer at CoFarm. So I went for the farming experience, but I stayed for the amazing comradeship and the values shared by CoFarm volunteers and project leaders. It was as if I had found ‘my people’.
One day I saw a call from CSF for volunteers and as I still had free time to offer, I thought that I should go, that it was the right thing to do. So I went for good conscience, but I stayed, again, for the wonderful camaraderie and values of the CSF people.
And as with CoFarm, going there is just so much fun. They fall over themselves to make you feel welcome and appreciated. I am mainly working at the food distribution centre, preparing the food deliveries for the different hubs in town. But I also sometimes help cooking for the holiday lunches or for other CSF-catered activities that spread the message that healthy, climate-friendly and tasty food should be within reach of everybody. I truly agree with this message and I can see that CSF and CoFarm walk that talk.
Volunteering at CoFarm and CSF is what I need to do to feel less overwhelmed by the tidal wave of climate anxiety I sometimes feel. It helps me mentally and physically. I would recommend anybody to come and join us. Only by adding our small individual contributions in droves can we hope to achieve the revolution that’s needed to steer us towards a better future. So come along! You won’t regret it."
How can I take action?
Have a couple of hours to spare on weekday mornings? Join CSF’s essential crew of volunteer drivers and help us distribute surplus food to the community. Contact becca@cambridgesustainablefood.org to find out more and sign up
Support fantastic community food projects such as FoodCycle, Red Hen Project or Cambridge Community Kitchen, who all need volunteers at the moment. Started volunteering? Share your story with us on social media #GoldFoodCambridge #YesWeCam
Roll up your sleeves and help to sort and prepare food for CSF’s Holiday Lunches, community meals and the 8 Community Food Hubs. Email becca@cambridgesustainablefood.org to find out about upcoming opportunities
Lend a hand to local food growing projects like CoFarm, Darwin Nurseries or Prospects Trust and share photos of your green fingers in action on social #GoldFoodCambridge #YesWeCam