On Tuesday 28th July, Horsham Matters had the pleasure of welcoming volunteers from Focus Group for a fantastic day of community volunteering across our allotment and foodbank warehouse.
We were delighted to welcome a team of eight enthusiastic volunteers who began the day at our allotment. Despite the warm weather, the team weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. They worked incredibly hard maintaining and preparing our growing plots for future planting, while also making sure our fruit and vegetables were well watered. To top it all off, the volunteers harvested a variety of fresh produce, ready to be distributed through our foodbanks to local people facing hardship.
During the morning, we shared the story behind our allotment project and explained how providing fresh fruit and vegetables alongside emergency food parcels helps people access healthier, more balanced meals using fresh ingredients that they might not otherwise be able to afford.
One volunteer said: “It was lovely to hear how the allotment came to be and what Rob and the team are doing to grow their own veg for the foodbank.”
The fun didn’t stop there!
After a rewarding morning at the allotment, the team travelled to our Redkiln Close warehouse and main foodbank for an afternoon of volunteering.
The volunteers split into smaller groups to tackle a variety of essential tasks, including sorting Christmas toy donations, organising food donations, checking essential household items, painting fences and even giving our vehicles a well-deserved clean.
It was a busy but incredibly rewarding day, and we are so grateful to everyone from Focus Group for giving their time, energy and enthusiasm. Their support helps keep our allotment thriving and ensures our foodbanks remain well stocked for local families who need them most.
Welcoming the Focus Foundation
We were also delighted to welcome members of the Focus Foundation team, including their CEO, Grants & Charity Manager, Relationship Manager and Marketing Manager, who joined us at the allotment to see the project first-hand and get involved alongside the volunteers.
It was a pleasure for our Fundraising & Marketing Manager, Rob, to spend time with the team, sharing more about Horsham Matters, our mission to reduce hardship across the Horsham District, and the impact that partnerships like this have on the people we support.
The Focus Foundation has been a tremendous supporter of Horsham Matters, and it was wonderful to meet Katie, Mandi, Claire and Alix while strengthening our partnership over a morning of harvesting fresh produce together.
Mandi, Grants & Charity Manager at the Focus Foundation, said:
“I’m incredibly proud that we can support and showcase a charity that works so hard to create positive change within its community. Horsham Matters combines compassion with innovation, delivering meaningful support to people when they need it most, and is undoubtedly one of the most impactful charities in the region.”
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