When I started volunteering for the Felix Project, I had no idea what to expect. Working in the fashion industry often feels like I am working for the wrong side. I had the strong urge to volunteer in London, somewhere and do some good but with an irregular work schedule and no experience whatsoever I had no idea where to start.
That’s when a friend told me about The Felix Project - a charity fighting food waste and helping out people in need. I was intrigued, especially by the fact that you could sign up for a shift whenever you are free, which allowed me to sign up despite my crazy work hours.
Starting my first shift, I was a little nervous - as I had never done anything at all in that field and no idea who I was going to work with or what I was going to do.
However I was welcomed by group of friendly, caring faces, which almost immediately felt like a small family. Each of them happy to explain and show me everything, from loading crates into a van, over sorting out donations up to where to get a hot cup of tea.
After finishing my first shift I knew I would be back. And I try coming back at least once a week ever since.
There’s always work to be done, always a task to makes yourself useful.
No matter if it’s working in the depot and sorting the crates, taking care of supermarket deliveries in the evening or driving or co-driving around London with a van full of food, waiting to be handed out.
My personal favourite is co-driving, as I lack a driver’s license but am a skilled google maps user and a diagnosed chatterbox.
Working for Felix turned out to not only to be literally fighting evil with good, it ended up being so much more.
Every time I volunteer, I get to meet amazing, like-minded people, who are always up for a good laugh or conversation, making the hours fly by like minutes. I am forever impressed by all the volunteers, who donate their free time to do not only what’s necessary, but literally as much as possible. I get to know charity organisations all over London, where I get to experience the good The Felix Project is doing on a daily. But most importantly get to be part of something bigger, feeling like I can actually give something back.
