Turn up. Do the thing.
Get coffee.

What actually happens

1. You arrive at the meeting pointWe're the ones with the sign. Come as you are — nobody here knows each other either.
2. Ten minutes of namesFirst names, one sentence each on why you came. Then the safety brief and the photo rule.
3. Ninety minutes of workSplit into pairs or small groups with a clear patch each, so nobody stands around wondering what to do.
4. We count it out loudSixty cards. Eleven bags. Three pantries. Then a photo of the work, not of anybody's face.
5. We ask what to do next monthGenuinely. Most of the good ideas came from someone at their first event.
6. Coffee, within walking distanceOptional, but it's where this stops being a chore and starts being a thing you look forward to.

Questions people actually ask

Do I need to know anyone?

No, and most people don't. Coming alone is the normal case.

Do I have to come every month?

No. Come once, come twice a year, come every time. There's no register and nobody chases you.

What does it cost?

Nothing. A couple of events a year ask you to bring $10–15 of groceries or supplies, and that's said clearly in advance. If it's a bad month, come anyway and bring nothing.

Can I bring my kids?

Usually yes, with you present. Some partner sites set their own minimum age — 16 at the food bank, 18 at a couple of others. We put the age on every event.

Can I bring my team from work?

Yes, but tell us first. Partner sites agree to a specific number and turning up with twenty when they expected ten causes them a real problem. Email us and we'll size it properly.

Can I visit someone in hospital or sit with someone who's ill?

This is the thing people ask for most, and it's the one we can't do as a drop-in group. Hospitals and hospices require an application, an interview, a background check, health screening and usually a six-month commitment — for good reasons. If you want to do it, we'll point you at the right programme and help you start the process. Hospice takes about sixteen hours of training; a hospital takes months. It's worth it, and it isn't a Saturday morning.

Is this a religious thing? A political thing?

No, and no.

What if only three people come?

We run it. Three people still fill three pantries.

Want to run one where you live?

Take the whole format. First Saturday, two hours, one partner who told you what they need, coffee after. Ask your local food bank or parks department what would actually help and start there.

If you want the checklist we use — the safety brief, the supply list, the questions to ask a partner before you book — email us and we'll send it. It's free and there's nothing to sign up to.