Andrew Gibson, Food Train Volunteer

I actually got involved through work - HR were working with another organisation called Social Connect and the Food Train opportunity came up after about three months of being registered with the website, so I got in touch, they did their Disclosure Scotland checks, and then I was matched with Norman and Liz as they live nearby.  

I think I did my first shop delivery for them around November 2020 and have been doing it now for about two and a half months. It’s nothing really. Norman will phone me on the Thursday evening with his shopping list and give me what they need and I go down to Morrisons in Bishopbriggs on a Saturday morning, collect it, buy it for them.  I do my own shopping while I’m there as well, and then I take it up to them. It takes about an hour and a half out my week and you know, it’s no problem at all.  So very happy to do it. 

In the beginning I wore a mask and went in the house and then when restrictions got more strict, I just dropped them off. Now we’ve all been vaccinated so we’re all a bit more relaxed!

It’s nice.  You get to chat to them and see how they’re doing, and just make sure they’re doing alright and learn a wee bit about them. They’re a nice elderly couple.  One day I noticed Norman was wearing a golf club jumper so I play golf so I asked him about it and he told me all about his golfing years. I also mentioned that I have a dog, and he’s always asking me about my dog, So yeah, we just chat away.  It’s nice.

It feels like you’re looking out for somebody a wee bit. You know, just keeping a wee eye on them, and make sure they keep well, keep good care of themselves as much as they can. I think they feel maybe a wee bit isolated and especially not getting out and about because of the pandemic.  Because Norman I think, although he wasn’t golfing regularly, he was probably still using it as a social thing and of course that’s all stopped.  So, their whole social, like everybody else, the whole social network has disappeared.  So, I think they’re very grateful - they always say it’s a great help, but to be honest, I don’t really think I’m doing very much at all.

It helps me get a focus as well during lockdown, cause there’s not much to do anyway.  I do worry that if we ever do get back to where I’m going to fit it in and I might have to juggle when I’m going to do it, but I’m sure I’ll find the time.  If it means going on a Sunday afternoon or whatever that would be fine. And it’s nice just to build a relationship with people.  You don’t want to become the prying do-gooder but it’s nice just to check in on somebody see they’re alright. 

I think I’d say to people you do get more out of volunteering than just giving money or doing a fundraiser. I mean money’s important, don’t get me wrong, these things don’t work without money either, but you do get more out of volunteering than you do just being a contributor of fundraising.