5 GGR foodbank regulars turned up today to pick and pack for Frenford Foosbank.

Ed and Linda started setting everything up soon joined by AJ who was keen to start her last shift with GGUK before moving to the USA. AJ has been a keen supporter of GG food banks across the boroughs and has already scoped out food banks stateside so she can help out across the pond. 🙌🏻

Massive kudos goes out to Peter and Kathryn who gave up days off work to come help out, especially as Kathryn was under par due to dental work and also roped in her Mum to help. 🤩

Along with other volunteers we soon got 47 packages picked and packed ready to go just taking a small break to snack on Victor the Vegan Caterpillar (made from fruit as we've had too much left over cake lately) to help celebrate Peters belated 50th Birthday and AJ's forthcoming adventures 🤗

• same location - Valentines Park
• same 3 people available - Ed, Linda & Peter
• unfortunately not quite the same 3 tasks - Linda & Ed did, but after 2x tokens it was marshaling at the boat house instead for Peter the week

almost like a carbon copy of last week:

• Ed marshaling the main carpark for the 201st time
• Linda doing unofficial assisted/VI guiding (think she lost count how often)
• Peter doing tokens for 2nd week in a row

Will there be a hatrick next week?

Time will tell.

P.S. cudos to James C for helping to pack up after - better luck next time in the 'who rolls up the funnel tape fastest' contest

P.P.S. anyone know what the record is for volunteering at the same parkrun doing the same task?

As usual it was a great session at Frenford Foodbank. Good Gymmers and non members as working together as one big convivial team. Ed, Linda and Peter were there early busily setting up, before getting stuck into packing. AJ did a great job packing and mentoring some young-uns. Vicky cycled in and, despite being flustered from getting a little lost on the way, threw herself straight in to packing. Sharon did a sterling job calling some of the users to find out what they needed.

We were all finished and tidied up by lunchtime, well done to all of us 🥳. Sorry not many photos. I really must start nominating a photographer when I set these things up 🤦‍♀️

With Frenford getting last minute deliveries which needed to be sorted before Thursdays session we sprung into action to sort it out.

After much counting, sorting, lifting and shifting everything got put away. We finished with a quick tidy up and 5 minutes putting the world to rights.

Using one of Ed's legendary Marshalling phrases for the report title to celebrate his 200th parkrun volunteer session. 🥳

Originally reluctantly dragged to his first parkrun in July 2019 (by Linda in the hope he might take up running) Ed opted to volunteer and was immediately hooked. Soon his enthusiasm and witty encouraging phrases became legendary among not only the parkrun community but spread to other local running groups.

With Ed proudly taking up his usual post as car park marshal the rest of us were scattered around the course taking on a variety of jobs, marshaling, VI walker, timekeeping, token giver and bar-code scanning. The Run Director bigged up Eds achievement during the briefing instructing runners to cheer him back as he cheered them on the way round- which I am reliably informed they did.

We came together at the end, with some of us assisting with the close down before settling in a corner of the children's playground for a cup of something and a bite to eat. Sadly Colin couldn't make it this week but sent his stand in Wiggles instead 🐛

Five of GGR's finest arrived to help out at Frenford Foodbank.

Linda and Ed arrived early to set up. They were soon joined by last minute and very welcomed sign up Kathryn who helpfully brought along her Mum to assist us. We also welcomed back our Helena who can't always get to food bank but is always a valuable member of the team when she does. Last but not least AJ came to celebrate her 200th good deed with us. In keeping with tradition (which began with her 100th) she started with a spillage 🙄😂.

Along with the Frenford volunteers we all worked alongside each other helping one another out and getting the job done by lunchtime so 50 local households will be a little better off for it. We even had time to have a little tea break with the usual party guest Colin🐛.