Volunteer serves up 110,000 lunches over 50 years

4 hours ago

Grace McGroryin Cottingham

News image — Jennifer Hodge, 93, began volunteering at the lunch club in 1977

BBC The photo shows Jennifer Hodge smiling at the camera. She has brown hair and is wearing glasses. She is also wearing a leopard print and flowered top, with a black lanyard around her neck. She is sitting in front of a table and chairs. The table has been set for tea. — Jennifer Hodge, 93, began volunteering at the lunch club in 1977

A 93-year-old woman has served up an estimated 110,000 lunches during an almost 50-year spell of volunteering.

Jennifer Hodge began volunteering with the Royal Voluntary Service Cottingham lunch club in October 1977, when she was 44.

"They all know me, both the volunteers and the members. I'm here every week. We all get on very well. There's no bad feelings amongst any of us that I know of," she said.

Jennifer has recently been awarded with the Neighbourhood Champion Volunteer Award and a Special Recognition Award from Cottingham Parish Council.

The photo shows a group of women smiling at the camera. Most are wearing black aprons and lanyards. — The Cottingham lunch club is run by Royal Voluntary Service volunteers

The lunch club was founded by the charity in 1948. It provides members with a two-course dinner, followed by a warm drink, a raffle and entertainment.

Jennifer said she was encouraged to start volunteering by her friend, after her mother died.

"She said come and join RVS, and so I did. I met all these lovely people."

Jennifer has held a number of roles during her time with the lunch club, including collecting people's money when they arrive and organising the entertainment.

The charity said it believed Jennifer had served about 110,000 lunches over the last five decades.

However, she said she no longer serves people with their meals.

"They might be on the floor, or I would be," she laughed.

Above all, Jennifer said she loved to see the friendships that had been made among volunteers and members.

"Everyone says how much nicer it is eating with people, because most people live on their own.

"I'm a widow, and I live on my own, so I like the companionship as well."

Jennifer is sitting in a chair. She is wearing a leopard print and floral top and is peering over a table. There are bank notes in front of her. Another woman is bending down writing on a piece of paper on the table. — Jennifer's current role involves greeting members and processing their entry fees

Jennifer has also received Royal Voluntary Service long service awards, and was given a Platinum Champions Award as part of the Royal Jubilee awards programme in 2022.

Michael Bartley, clubs coordinator at the Royal Voluntary Service, said Jennifer was a "fantastic player".

"She runs the club like clockwork," he said.

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