Hello there, let me introduce myself. 

My name is Deirdre Gallagher, I am from Donegal, which is probably no surprise given my very Donegal surname.  I am now in what has often been described as the “Third Age”, and while I thoroughly enjoy using my Free Travel card, I still feel I am getting it under false pretences and that it is for old people, not young ones like me. 

A bit about me: I work a three-day week, which gives me time to pursue some of my other interests, which of course include my volunteering with FoodCloud. I sing in a choir, take sewing and art lessons, and am interested in motorsport, which translates into running events and competing.  I have always liked driving and still hold a truck driving licence.  I love to travel and have visited all 7 continents. My guilty pleasure is that I love lighthouses and have more than 50 of them in all shapes and sizes dotted around the house.  I am a committed charity shop shopper and have had some great finds over the years, including some lighthouses to add to my collection.

One of my favourite quotes is “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear” and I always feel that this applies to me and FoodCloud.  I heard a lady being interviewed on the radio about FoodCloud, and she explained what the organisation was all about and that there were volunteering opportunities.  I had never heard of FoodCloud before, but I liked what I heard, so I logged on to the website and sent off an email enquiring about volunteering opportunities which culminated in my attending the next induction day.  

I preferred working in the warehouse operation as I wanted something completely different from my regular workday. I opted for Monday afternoons and arrived for my first shift on Monday, 25^th of September 2024.  After signing in and donning my volunteer hi-vis and the obligatory steel-toed safety shoes, I got my first introduction to the warehouse. Gavin, Dave, Tommy and the lads were so friendly and helpful.  I got my first “picking” done with only about 120 questions, and I did get the number of questions down as time went on! 

Every day is different, and it could be picking, sorting a pallet, labelling a product, putting items on the system, or even being allowed to use Gavin’s prized floor washing machine.  While the warehouse is my main spot, I have had the opportunity to volunteer with the FoodCloud Kitchen in the café in Richmond Barracks and at the Christmas dinner for senior citizens, which FoodCloud catered in December 2024.

I volunteer with FoodCloud because it aligns with my values.  I deplore waste, especially when some common sense can alleviate it. To me, FoodCloud is a no-brainer. If one entity has a surplus and another has a deficiency, it just makes sense to facilitate a transfer between them.

I feel valued as a  FoodCloud volunteer, and I look forward to arriving on a Monday, where I am always met by a smiling friendly face, usually Marzia but often Marie or Lisa.  I feel that we are making a difference, and that’s good enough for me.