In the heart of the villages surrounding Stevenage, the Knebworth Food Bank has become a vital resource for many struggling to make ends meet. Founded in 2022 by Darren Gilbert, the food bank has quickly grown into a cornerstone of community support. In this interview, we sit down with Darren to learn more about the inspiration behind its creation, the incredible team of volunteers who make it all possible, and the unique ways this food bank is helping those in need without the usual barriers. Discover how this food bank is making a profound impact on the local community and how you can get involved to support their mission.
Who founded the Foodbank and what was the inspiration?
It was me that founded the food bank. I’ve always wanted and always have helped others it’s just in my nature to do so. I saw during and after Covid that those in the villages we are surrounded by, sometimes didn’t have any support from the towns either side in Stevenage and Welwyn garden city, and especially during Covid I was out volunteering for deliveries of hot meals to the elderly which was amazing, but I also saw many struggling. This inspired me to open a food bank in 2022.
How any volunteers do you have working for you?
We are a great team. We have our many regular volunteers in Darren C, Hayley, Julie, Uncle Steve, David, Jay, Andrew, and two Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteers too in Teegan and Charlie who doing a bronze and silver award with us. We also have the great support from Stevenage Phoenix Running Club who have set up a rota for every Friday evening to support myself or another team leader. They help sort landfill-bound products from four co op stores and store safely ready for our visitors on a Saturday morning, which is a big help and also frequently do food bank runs in donating much needed items to us.
What makes you stand out from any of the other food banks?
We are the only food bank that doesn’t need to be referred to for use, which means someone makes a decision on whether they are or not entitled to two bags of food, which is some cases during winter meant it was the difference for having the heating on or not that week which is so sad to see. This is why we don’t want to be a referred food bank.
Who are you for?
We are for the villages surrounding Knebworth, including Datchworth, Welwyn Village, Watton at Stone, Oaklands, and Woolmer Green.
What’s next for the foodbank?
Each Christmas we do Christmas Day in a box which with huge help from Stevenage Community Trust we buy frozen turkeys and put all the trimmings for the dinner, including sweets, crackers, napkins and small treats for those that need it. We plan to continue this but we also look to help individuals or families on providing days out and will work with organisations to bring this in 2025.
How can the Stevenage community help you?
We hope that as many schools and local people can donate especially during the winter period when we find it difficult to maintain the levels of stock. We list each week items we need and can email or message us too as happy to collect donations. We also hope this raises awareness to help those in Stevenage and also support two great food banks and hubs they already have in Feed Up Warm Up, and Stevenage Food Bank located off Gunnells Wood Road – we all have the same aim and want to help those in need.
What has most inspired you?
We once had this lady visit us who at first couldn’t bring herself to come in, walking past 4-6 times getting visibly emotional and was greeted by one of our leaders and she explained she had gone through tough times very recently. She explain that she had recently been diagnosed with cancer and on the road for treatment but had also just been made redundant too which left her feeling very vulnerable and in need of some help. She felt embarrassed to come to us as universal credit said it would take potentially 6 weeks to get her into the system, and start processing her application for this help but was in real need of some support by us.
We helped her without any hesitation or vetting and for a few weeks she came back with much better confidence, and then she stopped coming. A few weeks later she reached out to me and said “I have a donation for you”. She found a new job, treatment was going well and she wanted to give back to the food bank that helped her when she needed it most. A few boxes of items was delivered and we haven’t seen her again but I remain in touch and she is doing well.
This is why we do what we do. In the real world we shouldn’t as a country be in a situation where food banks exist, but we are, and we do what is necessary to help those in need. Keep supporting us and keep supporting those around you. We thank all of our supporters frequently and again we extend our gratitude for your support and generosity.
To support Knebworth foodbank, please reach out on Instagram at @knebworth_food_bank
