Reflecting on a volunteering experience supporting local communities
Going to a Foodbank as a volunteer for the first time, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
As a marketing student on placement at NorDan UK, I have spent a lot of time thinking about campaigns, messaging and target audiences. However, this was a completely new concept for me. It was a opportunity to step outside of that and see first hand, the real impact that community support can have and form my own opinion rather than reading statistics off a screen.
As part of NorDan's ongoing commitment to supporting local communities throughout the UK, I joined the team to take part in their volunteering day at West Lothian Foodbank. As an important local cause - this was a meaningful way for me to contribute beyond my day-to-day role and be part of something tangible.
West Lothian Foodbank, located in Bathgate, Scotland, exists because no one should ever go hungry or without support. The foodbank provide access to 3-day emergency food parcels to around 8,000 people a year across West Lothian, Scotland.
They not only provide non-perishable parcels but also grow their own produce in their garden. This allows them to add fresh fruit and vegetables to their packs in the most sustainable way with minimal waste. Seeing this and and caring for the fresh produce myself really highlighted the thought and care that goes into each parcel, not just meeting the basic needs but supporting people with the dignity they deserve. It also reminded me of NorDan's own aims towards sustainability and responsible use of resources, something which I've been learning more about throughout my placement.
West Lothian Foodbank helped improve my knowledge on how crucial foodbank's are and how much difference even a small donation can make. Working alongside experienced volunteers who devote so much of their time to the charity was inspiring to see.
Throughout the day we supported the foodbank's operations by organising stock, weighing and re-arranging items across the warehouse and working alongside the experienced volunteers. It was key for us to partner up and complete the tasks as smoothly as possible to ensure stock is stored correctly to reduce waste and minimise any difficulty in finding items when needed.
Prior to the volunteering day, we collected donations from members of staff across NorDan so that we didn't show up empty handed. This totalled up to 83kg worth of products which can make up to 197 meals.
On average, West Lothian Foodbank hand out 10 food parcels a day, if each parcel makes up 3 meals that's 30 meals within one day. Our donation of 197 meals on estimate would cover the foodbanks parcels for approximately 6.5 days (less if the parcels are going to full families). This highlights how meaningful small contributions can come together to make a meaningful impact because without them, the community using the foodbank would be in a very vulnerable position.
“Nearly 3 million emergency food parcels are distributed across the UK each year, with over a million provided for children. It’s a stark reminder of the scale of food insecurity facing households across the country.” — Trussell Trust, End of Year Stats 2023–2024
What stood out most from the day was the human side of it all. Behind every parcel, every donation, there are people relying on that support. Reinforcing my understanding of the importance of human experiences and emotions beyond the theoretical frameworks that I have learned throughout my time at university and on placement.
At NorDan, we’re committed to playing a positive role in the communities we’re part of. Supporting initiatives like West Lothian Foodbank is one way we can contribute and make a tangible difference locally.
Whether through volunteering, donations or simply raising awareness, we encourage everyone to consider how they can support their own local community.
If you’d like to learn more about the vital work they do, or find out how you can support, visit:
West Lothian Foodbank or 👉 Find your nearest food bank.
