Food bank volunteers thanked after King's Award

More than 50 volunteers are involved in the work of the charity which prepares food from Ms Kellond's home

The founder of a charitable organisation which provides meals to hundreds of people in food poverty has thanked volunteers after receiving a national award.

Friends of Di's Kitchen (FODK) based in Wolverhampton was given a King's Award for Voluntary Service, an award which recognises outstanding community work.

Jan Kellond said she set up the charity in her Penn home in memory of her "lovely, caring" friend Dianne Henry who ran a soup kitchen in the city for six years.

FODK started in 2020 by giving weekly meals to six people and now about 50 volunteers provide more 960 meals, including to many children, each Thursday.

"It’s humbling that such a hardworking and loyal group of volunteers, has been recognised for their service to those in food need across the city," said Ms Kellond.

"Without their dedication each week none of what has been achieved over nearly five years would have been possible."

She said the food was provided for those in need in Wolverhampton "free of charge and without judgement".

"The volunteers also offer emotional support to the recipients and signpost them to other agencies who might be able to offer further help," she said.

Every week, half of its guests receive a nutritious cold meal and the other guests a bag of store cupboard ingredients and surplus fresh food donated by supermarkets.

The volunteers prepare and deliver the food across Wolverhampton

Volunteers include pupils from a school for students with additional needs and the group is supported by other charitable and religious organisations, schools and businesses.

It was set up in memory of Mrs Henry, who died in 2018, by her friends and her widower Keith Henry, who is president of FODK.

The friends met when Ms Kellond began volunteering at the soup kitchen in 2015.

"Dianne was a lovely, lovely person who cared about everyone, everyone was her friend."