Meet the Team - Our volunteers

One of our main cooks, Carol has been with us from the start. She has a wealth of knowledge due to being a retired primary school and home economics teacher. She will be instrumental in launching and running our cookery classes, Let's Cook! Carol also features in our 'how to' videos on our YouTube channel

Another one of our cooks, Sue is a whizz in the kitchen. She has years of catering experience gained from working in school and commercial kitchens. A great baker and cake decorator, Sue also supports the local community as an active member of GRO.

Val has been part of FFF from the early days, she's a well known supporter of the local community. Always upbeat, Val is a great help in the kitchen whether it's preparing the meals or packing. Val is also our tombola queen and represents FFF at local fundraising events.

A retired ER nurse, Debbie is always calm and collected in the kitchen, super helpful, and not phased by anything! Debbie usually helps in the kitchen but will step up and help anywhere she is needed. Helping us to be zero heroes, Debbie deals with all our packaging, ensuring it is recycled.

Karen is an actress and voice over artist who features in the 'how to' videos on our YouTube channel, but on a weekly basis you can find her in the kitchen, helping prep the meals, pack them, wash up and generally helping where needed.

When she is not on duty at the West Vale Co-op, Tracy is also helping at Food For Families. Tracy is always ready to step in and help, and does a range of food prepping, packing, sorting the goody bags, cleaning and washing up.

As one half of a pair with her partner Paul, you will find Eileen labelling the bags for delivery or peeling and prepping veg ready for storage. Eileen is an intrepid traveller and is often globetrotting when not volunteering with FFF.

The quieter of the pair with Eileen, Paul can be relied upon to help us with labelling or peeling and prepping veg. He also enjoys travelling and exploring when not volunteering. 

A part-time dance teacher and ex-beauty therapist, Lesley helps us in the kitchen with food prep. She also helps us meet our zero hero target and ensure children receive fruit weekly, by supplying us with gorgeous home grown fruit in the summer, including rhubarb, apples, plums and raspberries.

Tina joins us in the kitchen every week, she's a great all rounder prepping the food, arranging the goody bags, washing up etc. and giving us her pearls of wisdom.

Abbie is a qualified beautician and was keen to help out when she heard about FFF. Despite having 5 horses to look after, she still finds time to help in the kitchen with prepping the meals or delivering to the schools for FFF.

Becky supports FFF in the kitchen despite being a nurse, volunteer at Project Colt and a barista who makes a mean coffee! She can be relied upon to help us with prep and cooking in the kitchen on a regular basis.

As a local ward councillor, Chris is a great supporter of the local community and was keen to help out with FFF, and recently volunteered to be our Treasurer

An ex-nurse and now a furniture restorer, Sarah offered to help where we needed, you'll have seen her delivering the summer lunches, now she'll be in the kitchen on a regular basis.

Retired Headteacher, Graham, is always on hand to support in whatever way needed, be that dropping meals off at the schools or delivering education sessions to primary children, to name but a few things. 

Working at Project Colt, Richard is often on hand to help with moving and lifting, a great help with our deliveries. 

Maria works at Elland and District Food Bank with whom we have developed great networks, supporting each other where we can. Maria helps with our deliveries to schools on a rota basis. 

Katie is in charge of logistics and the rota, planning it out seamlessly every month so our volunteers know where they need to be and when. Katie's husband Jez, is also a great supporter of FFF, helping out when needed.

As a retired technology teacher, Dave is our photographer and go-to when needing logos, images or generally anything IT.

 Joining FFF in March 24 as volunteer co-ordinator, Rebecca also supports us with anything admin - policies, letters, emails. Rebecca is also in charge of keeping the website up to date, contacting our families and posting on social media.