The food bank is currently part-submerged under Christmas preparations, but nonetheless the day-to-day work of getting food out to people can't stop, won't stop. Tonight we prepared food parcels and emergency food requests, helped the delivery drivers load up, unpacked food deliveries and donations, made sense of the fruit and veg stacks in the kitchen and did some restocking of the shelves.

Anna and Natasha wrangled around 500 egg boxes into crates to go into storage pending future egg gluts. A more difficult task than it sounds thanks to there being no uniform design of egg box!

Big thanks to Rachael for taking charge and getting everyone organised at the start of our shift while I tried to get my head around the Christmas gift packing and wrapping system for this year's OMA pressies.

On the first day of advent Oxford Mutual Aid gave to us,
A list of food parcels to be packed.

Another Wednesday at the food bank:
As always we finished up the packing of food parcels for the regular recipients, then pulled together the parcels for the Emergency request list.
This week we also did a bit of restocking and reorganising to try and get bread, cakes and flour off the lower shelves, some unpacking of deliveries, and some kitchen consolidation to get the fresh produce into as few crates as possible (to create space for any further incoming deliveries).

Good work as always team!

Welcome to GoodGym Emma!

Meadow Lane residents have formed a gardening group and are planning some guerrilla gardening along the edge of Meadow Lane Recreation Ground. Last night the GoodGym flash mob was called in to help clear the ground and get it closer to the point where it can be planted up.

Spreading out all along the lane we hauled out long grass, nettles, litter, burdock, and bindweed, tripping to and fro across the recreation ground with wheelbarrows to dispose of the detritus amongst the nettles on the Aston's Eyot side. A couple of frogs/toads were rehomed in a more peaceful spot (anyone know how to tell which is which?), and needles and glass carefully excavated and disposed of safely.

The residents had expected us to just clear one section, but with our bumper turnout we managed to do a MUCH longer section of the lane than they'd anticipated, almost joining up with the area near the playground which has already been beautifully planted up with cottage garden flowers.

We've received heartfelt thanks for our efforts: "Thank you so much for the amazing work you guys did on Meadow Lane tonight! It will make a beautiful public space for all to share."

Definitely one to watch in the spring - what will pop up in the new flowerbeds along Meadow Lane?

Welcome Shati - great to meet you!

6 GoodGymers packed a couple of dozen food parcels at the Oxford Mutual Aid Food Bank on Wednesday afternoon.

Here are some stats about Oxford Mutual Aid:

1. With your help, OMA have delivered over 11,000 food parcels, and over 20,000 meals since launching in March 2020.

2. OMA's regular deliveries of food, baby supplies and other essentials support to 286 households, going to 529 adults, 278 children, and 85 babies.

3. Over the last month Oxford Mutual Aid sent out 285 emergency food parcels, which went to 532 adults, 137 children, and 85 babies, and over 400 Kitchen Collective meals (precooked meals) were prepared, going to 81 households.

4. A further 50 parcels go to clients of St. Mungo’s and residents in temporary accommodation every week.

5. Oxford Mutual Aid supply food to several local community groups, charities and larders including Syrian Sisters, South Asian Women’s Voice, St. Mungo’s, the Porch, the Gatehouse, Food for Charities, Botley Larder, AGE UK, Dementia Oxfordshire and Florence Park Community Centre.

6. In total OMA provides support to over 2,000 people every week, which is over 1% of Oxford’s population.

This is only possible because of YOU and the other amazing volunteers.

Welcome Liz and Sonia - really good to meet you!