I am embarking on a 26km hike on the Ashridge Boundary Trail to raise funds for St Albans Community Pantry a great local charity in need of help.

Born in 2020, resulting from visible demand from the pandemic, we collect surplus food from supermarkets and offer it openly through our community fridge and bread pantry.

We're also working hard to close the loop between food waste and food insecurity, offering targeted help to vulnerable individuals and families by providing boxes of predominantly fresh produce on a weekly basis.

Sadly, demand for our services has surged recently, leaving us with the sobering realisation that far too many families are grappling with the harsh choice between putting food on the table and meeting other essential needs.

Donations and fundraising are essential for us to continue this vital work.