Karen & Bronwyn

Selfless Service

Karen Lavers is the founder of Buntingford Foodbank and she provides the most incredibly selfless service to struggling individuals and families in the local area.

Karen saw some coverage about foodbanks on TV, back in 2014, and it inspired her to find out if she could help. She discovered that the closest one was in Royston and so she volunteered her time to assist with weekly collections and deliveries. After a while of doing this, she noticed that lots of people were having to travel from Buntingford to Royston, to get to a foodbank. It wasn’t long before she hatched a plan to start a new foodbank in her home town of Buntingford and it started as a very small operation, running from her garden shed and serving around one person per week.

As Buntingford started to grow, and word was getting around about Karen’s food bank, the demand was rapidly rising and new premises were desperately needed to store everything. Fortunately, a local business and the Scout Hut stepped forward and provided temporary storage. Karen was given her own container and then, eventually, she received funding to pay for a unit which they operate from today. With the effects of the pandemic and the cost of living rising, Karen and her team are now helping 20-30 families per week! Food donations are collected at Royston Tesco, Buntingford Co-op as well as donations from local churches, schools and community groups. All donations are gratefully received as more and more people are finding themselves unable to make ends meet.

Running the food bank takes a huge commitment of time and organisation. Thankfully, Karen has the help of Daisy who collects donations as well as her incredible daughter Bronwyn (14). Bronwyn helps to date check food, stacks the shelves, packs bags and organises deliveries. She is a superstar at Christmas, with organising hampers and gifts for children and is Karen’s main support.

Buntingford Foodbank covers Buntingford itself as well as all surrounding villages. If you are struggling to pay for food then please, don’t go hungry. You can be referred to the foodbank via Citizens Advice Bureau, schools and support workers, or you can self refer via the Facebook page. With everybody feeling the pinch this winter, donations and the work from people like Karen are more important than ever before.