A carrier bag? What on earth has that to do with volunteering?

It’s simple really, why not do some shopping for a friend or neighbour who can’t get out to do it themselves.  A number of local charities recruit volunteers to befriend isolated older people and perhaps do their shopping for them. If you are shopping for yourself, it’s not much effort to pick up a few extra items for someone who can’t go out to buy it themselves.

Charity Shops – recycling saves lives

These shops raise essential funds to provide support to people who are often in crisis or need specialised support. Why not gather up some clean, undamaged, unwanted items and give them to a local charity shop?  That way you are doing the ultimate in recycling, helping someone else be giving away things you no longer need!

Donate food to a foodbank or homeless charity

Foodbanks and charities like them are often the last hope for people who are struggling, often through no fault of their own. Why not download a wishlist from your local foodbank and encourage friends, family or work colleagues to help too!

There are LOCAL collection points, who support people in their local area. Please contact your most convenient one to arrange to drop off your donations:

• Brierley Hill– Black Country Foodbank ( 01384 671250
  coleman@blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk
• Coseley– Dark House Baptist Church ( 07817 417210)
  humphries4@btopenworld.com
• Dudley– Dudley Community Church
  dcc@outlook.com
• Halesowen– Hope Centre ( 0121 602 1744)
  hopecentre@hotmail.com
• Stourbridge– Black Country Foodbank ( 01384 671250)
  coleman@blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk
• Boroughwide– Vi Wood from Leslie’s Care Packages – who campaigns to raise funds and supplies for the homeless https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009557743713 [Facebook link]

Please remember

These are charities run by volunteers, who give their time to help local communities around already busy lives and there are no paid staff, so they may take a couple of days to contact you. Leave a message and they will get back to you!