FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The inspiration behind a community-focused charity campaign
After more than 24 years serving railway customers, David Cranstoun knows a thing or two about being helpful and compassionate.
But witnessing people queuing in the cold and rain at a foodbank one winter’s evening inspired him to take his passion for community welfare to a new level – and start a charity project which has become a huge success.
David Cranstoun
David Cranstoun
Last year, David, a customer host at Acton Central, set up a food collection at four stations and the Palestra office. It was a partnership with social value charity City Harvest, which quickly gained momentum and resulted in enough donations to provide more than 2,500 meals.
This year, the scheme ran through October and was expanded to 17 stations and Palestra. The response was, once again, incredible (see box, below).
It all began in 2021 when David was invited by a friend to a charity project in Croydon, providing food for homeless and vulnerable people.
He recalls: “When I saw these people queueing up, with frustration and desperation on their faces, it really struck me how important having a proper meal is. They were bracing against this wind and cold weather just to get a cup of tea and a package that had been prepared for them. It made me think about what I could do to help.”
It also reminded David of a time in his youth when he was briefly homeless after a family fall-out.
“I remembered how cold and sad that was,” he says. “It’s always stayed with me and motivated me to help others wherever I can.”
Determined to make a difference, David raised the idea of a food bank with his manager, and they connected with City Harvest.
City Harvest aims to address two big issues: food waste and food poverty. It helps re-distribute food that would otherwise be wasted, to grassroots organisations that feed some of London’s most vulnerable people.
Arriva Rail London also supported the idea and donated £1,000 after City Harvest was nominated in our charity partner scheme.
“We printed posters and hundreds of leaflets, which we gave to customers and local businesses,” says David. “We asked them to support us by collecting food like rice, pasta, sugar and other dry goods. We didn’t know what to expect but the response was fantastic.”
As donations came in, volunteers collected them regularly and took them to City Harvest’s warehouse. Here they were sorted and packed for distribution to local community groups across London. David, and a group of colleagues, also spent a day at the warehouse and joined one of the van deliveries. Seeing donations get to where they were needed was hugely rewarding.
Following the success to last year’s campaign, David gave a presentation to ARL’s senior leaders at a conference. His speech made a big impression and resulted in backing to expand the scheme to 17 stations this year.
ARL community and stakeholder manager Samantha Nakirya has also been lending her support and helping with the logistics, while several senior leaders at ARL have also spent time volunteering at City Harvest.
“I love that the company has embraced it,” says David. “Our aim is to make it bigger and better every year. It's a great thing to have compassion for people in society who have less, especially with winter coming along. Even a little thing like donating or collecting some packets of food can change someone’s life.”
THE CAMPAIGN WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AGAIN IN 2024
787kg of food collected equates to 1,897 meals delivered
175 hours of volunteering equates to 92,750 meals
£1,405 donated and fund-raised equates to 5,620 meals
TOTAL EQUIVALENT 100,267 meals
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