Last night was our monthly flash-mob at the Oxford Mutual Aid foodbank. Throughout the winter we go in regularly to do a thorough clean. We are gradually working our way around the main food storage areas moving all the stock, cleaning the area and then restacking it. This month's area was one of the biggest stacks of ambient food and cleaning supplies in the centre of the room. It was all stacked more than head-high, so quite a challenge to get it all moved. Nonetheless, it felt like before we'd even dished out all the jobs most of the stack was shifted and the cleaning was underway - whenever I see the GoodGym team pull together like this it seems like the very definition of Many Hands Make Light Work.

While most of the group took care of the big move and clean, the rest headed into the kitchen area. There they sorted through the fresh fruit and veg, getting rid of anything going mouldy. Fridges were cleaned, surfaces wiped down, food waste removed and the floor mopped.

Also ticked off the 'To Do' list: cleaning and restacking the dirty food crates, portioning up tea bags, a bit of putting away donations.

Lot's achieved - well done all!

The Porch Day Centre have been providing day-long support for homeless and vulnerably housed people for over 35 years. They focus on housing, health, wellbeing, education and employment; providing healthy food, showers, laundry, learning skills, work related skills and opportunities for development.

Demand for the centre's services keeps growing, and they are now providing breakfasts and extending their opening hours. With the rising cost of gas and electricity their costs were going up even before they extended their hours. The freezing weather in December meant The Porch were heavily involved in providing emergency sleeping spaces and breakfasts in partnership with Oxford City Council, and doing so across the weekends as well as their usual weekday opening hours. They needed to open and heat their second building throughout the nights, further adding to their costs.

Having seen their plea on social media for help to deliver leaflets advertising their Warmth and Welfare Winter Fundraiser, GoodGym Oxford sprung into action. We delivered leaflets to homes in the area around The Porch before Christmas, and in a final push before the fundraiser ends on 18/1 we did another leafleting effort last night around Summertown. The blustery, rainy weather definitely focused the mind on how much we appreciated our warm homes to go back to, and how bleak it would be to be homeless.

We've received the following message from The Porch:
"We have already received another £500 from last night as a direct result of your drop which keeps us running for most of a day!
I'm sorry you all had to endure that weather - but we're all so grateful! Thanks again and please thank the rest of your team on my behalf."

The success of the fundraising is already helping meet the centre's winter energy and running costs, and having surpassed the original target now it looks like it will help them buy 2 new commercial washing machines and 2 tumble driers to replace their old and inefficient machines - re-vamping the much-used laundry.

A few hours out facing the elements has made a big difference - well done team!

Welcome to GoodGym Kerry and Nic. Good to see Henry's black '50 Good Deed' Tshirt get it's first outing.