A COMMUNITY group is continuing to tackle the cost of living crisis and food waste as it negotiates its second year of activity.
SHARE Shinfield celebrated its first birthday in January and has plans to serve its users in bigger and better ways this year.
Residents attend its weekly food shares at Shinfield Community Church on Fairmead Road, where they can pick up fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as other essential items, for just £1.
According to co-founder Sarah O’Neill, the organisation prevents up to five cars-worth of food from going to landfill each week.
Sarah said: “It’s been amazing, always full-on, but so exciting. It’s great because we’re still seeing new faces. You want people to know we exist, to come in and get fed.
“It’s really been an honour and a privilege to be able to do that.”
Co-founder Rachel Walker was thrilled by the progress SHARE Shinfield has made in such a short period of time, heaping praise on the organisation’s team of volunteers.
In the early days, one of either Rachel or Sarah would have to be present at all times to ensure the smooth running of operations. But such has been the strength of the on-site staff, that is no longer the case.
Rachel explained: “Now, we’re so much more established, with a real strategy and structure in place so everyone knows what they’re doing. The team is just incredible.
“Even if there is a day where neither Sarah nor I can come for one reason or another, the team is just awesome and just gets on with it.”
Since SHARE Shinfield’s opening, international crises, such as Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, have seen refugees move to the area, some of whom have begun attending its weekly food shares. Others have even gone on to volunteer as helpers.
The food, although vital, is just one part of the group’s work. There is a genuine sense of community among organisers and fellow users, with people encouraged to stop for a chat at the church’s cafe after picking up their weekly shop.
Both Rachel and Sarah expressed their gratitude to the church’s pastor Revd Nathan Hunt and associate pastor Sally-Ann Hunt, who have been instrumental in the running of the cafe.
“It’s just about being there for people,” Sarah said.
“There have been tears and chats in side-rooms. The food really is just the first step, there’s so much more that’s often needed.
“Now that people come in every week, you get to know people and we find that we’re setting up more cafe tables to accommodate more people.”
Rachel added: “If the cafe wasn’t there, people would just come in, take their food and just go back home. We wouldn’t be able to get to the core of any issues they might be having.
“There are people who are struggling far more than what meets the eye. We can invite people into the emergency top-up room and they can take any essential items or cleaning products they might need.”
“It’s a friendship cafe, but it can really be a lifeline.”
Moving into its second year, SHARE Shinfield is taking its projects a step further, providing easy-to-follow recipes for service users to cook nutritious meals.
The initiative is funded by a £500 grant from Sainsbury’s and focuses on preparation methods which require the least amount of energy, to help residents counter the current cost of living crisis.
