At the age of 60, I was planning to go back to studying Art, when life took a very different and unexpected path!

On 20th April 2020, at the start of the Covid outbreak, I was watching the evening news, and a particular report caught my attention: a queue of expensive cars lined up outside a food bank. People who had lost their businesses were now struggling to afford their weekly groceries. It touched a chord.

With the Jewish festival of Passover just two days away, I knew that Jewish households would be disposing of their non-Passover food. Rather than seeing this food go to waste, I realised it could be collected and donated to our local food bank. I reached out to ex-MP Mike Freer, who sent a message to all the synagogues in his constituency, requesting food donations. By the next day, we had collected an entire van of food donations and delivered it to the Muswell Hill Food Bank. The manager there was overwhelmed with gratitude. This small initiative set the wheels in motion for what would become a registered charity: Food Bank Aid. Following the Passover drop-off, I began distributing leaflets in my neighbourhood, asking for food donations to be left in my driveway. With the lockdown in full effect, people were looking for ways to help, and soon, my driveway was overflowing with hundreds of bags of food.

As I reached out to my wider network, a growing group of volunteers joined the cause; collecting and delivering food donations and helping with social media, marketing, PR etc. After 15 months, we had collected about £1.5 million worth of goods. Realising the need for a more formal structure, I registered Food Bank Aid as a charity on 29th March 2021, the anniversary of my father’s passing. This was a poignant moment, as my father had greatly inspired my charitable work.

Another major milestone was moving our drop-off centre from my driveway to a dedicated hub in North Finchley. Land Securities and later Regal London generously offered us space for free, allowing us to establish our own distribution centre.

Our operation only thrives thanks to the dedication of our 350 active volunteers. We run a flexible volunteering system where volunteers can choose their shifts via an app. Most come in once or twice a week, though some contribute more or less frequently. Our roles vary from drivers, who deliver to food banks, to packers, who sort and pack incoming food, and splitters, who divide large bags of rice, tea, etc., into smaller portions. We also have a stream of back-office jobs, from event planning to governance. The sense of community among our volunteers is incredibly fulfilling and one of the things I am most proud of.

We are now at another pivotal moment, having just hired an interim CEO before taking on someone permanent. This new leadership brings a wealth of skills and expertise to take us forward. The last four years have been an incredible but all-consuming journey. I am happy to pass over the reins and focus on areas which I most enjoy, like networking, meeting with volunteers, and even getting back to packing. I’ve never felt as fit as when I was packing boxes daily! Plus, I have a new initiative in mind. We have a group of 35 volunteers in their 80s and 90s living in assisted living accommodation. They can’t come to the centre, but we deliver large bags of tea for them to decant. Encouraging less able groups to come together and find purpose is an idea I am excited to expand.

Looking back over the last four years, I am most proud of how we have nurtured a community to help other communities. What started as a small initiative has blossomed into the supply of £5 million worth of goods to 33 food banks, supporting 20,000 people, including 5000 children, per week. We also work with over 90 schools to inform children about food poverty and engage with them about social responsibility. This journey has been unexpected but profoundly rewarding, and I look forward to seeing Food Bank Aid continue to grow and thrive. Plus, I am looking forward to being able to take a break now; travel, explore and meet other Circle Square members!

Please come and join the Food Bank Aid family whatever your age or ability. Email me at naomi-russell@foodbankaid.org.uk

Circle Square Member Q&A

What 3 words best describe you? Tenacious, empathetic, direct.

If you could offer your younger self one piece of advice, what would that be? It’s OK to say I don’t know and be vulnerable.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Founding Food Bank Aid and marrying my husband!

Which person (dead or alive) would you most like to invite to dinner? My dad whose community work inspired me greatly.

How has age strengthened your advantage? Having the confidence to ask because the worst thing that can happen is someone will say no.

What inspired you to join Circle Square? We attended the book event of Isabelle Seddon (a treasured Food Bank Aid volunteer) and were inspired by the interesting and interested group of people.