From Social Work To The Hackney Giving Van

When Jackie Murdock joined Hackney Foodbank last November, volunteering was another item to tick off her retirement bucket list.

After taking early retirement at the age of 58 from a career managing a social work team at Homerton Hospital, she spent time travelling, supporting her growing family and rediscovering Hackney after the loss of her mum.

"There's so much in the area you live in that you never get to see," Jackie said.

Less than a year later, she's volunteered on the Hackney Giving Van, in distribution centres, the warehouse and reception - discovering every role offers something different.

Jackie started on the Hackney Giving Van, initially supporting Wednesday sessions for Hackney's Jewish community before volunteering on other routes.

The experience opened her eyes to communities she'd lived alongside for decades.

"There's just so much in our community that I didn't know about, even though I've lived here most of my life”, she said.

The food distribution centres offered a completely different experience.

"It felt like all hands on deck," she said. "Compared to the van, it was much more physically challenging.

"I wanted to understand where everything starts - where the food comes from, how it's sorted, the whole journey."

"I thought everything was donations. I didn't realise food had to be purchased too. That's when I realised the scale of it. It's a massive operation."

Across every role, one thing has remained constant - the people.

"The other thing is the family atmosphere here," she said. "Everybody treats you like you've known them forever."