Spotlight on Volunteers: Frank Danes from the Ely Foodbank

Frank has been a volunteer at the Ely Foodbank since it opened 12 years ago, and has given much of his time there ever since.

The Ely Foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust, which is a Christian organisation that aims to stop hunger in the UK.

Frank Danes has been volunteering at the Ely Foodbank for 12 years. (Image: Frank Danes) (Image: Frank Danes)

What kinds of volunteering do you do?

At the Distribution Centres for Ely Foodbank, Frank and many other volunteers give out food parcels to anyone in need.

People using the foodbank are welcomed in by volunteers who greet them and have a tea or coffee with them.

Volunteers also chat with everyone using the foodbank, and give out emergency packages which have enough supplies to last for three days.

Frank also spends every Wednesday in the warehouse, which is where donations come in.

Donations for the Ely Foodbank come from a variety of places, including local supermarkets, churches, individuals, organisations like the Women's Institute, and schools, especially at Harvest time.

Volunteers also sort the donations into different types of parcels. These include a parcel for couples or families, or a 24-hour parcel for any walk-ins at the foodbank.

Why do you volunteer?

I asked Frank why he volunteers at the Ely Foodbank and he told me that "poverty is an evil, and you have to fight evil."

We have a state that has largely withdrawn from welfare, so charities are doing their best to fill the gaps.

Frank told me of his feelings of anger towards the fact that people are having to use foodbanks. 

He said: "Poverty makes me angry. I was brought up in poverty, and I know what it's like to not have enough money."

When I asked Frank how volunteering makes him feel, he told me: "I don't feel satisfied that I help, it makes me angry. We should not need foodbanks - they should not be here."

Frank selflessly said:

Volunteers aren't heroes, they're ordinary people trying to help.

How many volunteers are there at the Ely Foodbank?

There are around 100 volunteers at Ely Foodbank who come from all walks of life. 

Some volunteers work full-time while others give a few hours a week or a month - the amount of volunteering is up to the individual.

There are satellite food banks across East Cambridgeshire that volunteers can work in as well. 

Frank told me that at the Ely Foodbank, they "wouldn't be anywhere without volunteers.

"If we didn't have volunteers, people would go hungry. It's a disgrace

"We simply can't function without volunteers."

Volunteers at Ely Foodbank work tirelessly to put packages together. (Image: Ely Foodbank) (Image: Ely Foodbank)

Are you on the lookout for volunteers?

The volunteering group at Ely Foodbank are a "friendly group" who share one aim - to help end hunger in East Cambridgeshire as well as nationally.

Frank confirmed that the foodbank always needs new volunteers because "people's circumstances can change, so volunteers always come and go."

A final word from Frank

I look forward to the day we don't need foodbanks. For every McDonald's in this country, there is a foodbank.

Contact details

There are distribution centres in Ely, March, Soham, Cottenham, Chatteris, Haddenham, Waterbeach and Burwell. 

The foodbank works using a voucher referral system. More information on how to access vouchers is on their website.

For directions, opening times and more information, check out the Ely Foodbank website.

Their email is: info@elyfoodbank.org.uk

Their phone number is: 01353 468626

Any volunteer organisations that would like to feature in our campaign should get in touch at: francesca.herring@newsquest.co.uk