🛒 More Than Just a Food Collection – A Day of Generosity, Gratitude and Grace
What started as a simple food collection at Tesco Fforestfach turned into a day none of us will forget.
Led by the wonderful Shirleyann and Dan, and powered by seven amazing volunteers, the Matthew’s House team spent an afternoon greeting shoppers, sharing the story of what we do, and inviting the public to give what they could.
By the end of the day, we’d collected 27 full trays of food — a generous haul that will help us continue feeding those who need it most through the summer months. But even more than that, this was a day full of connection, memory, and unexpected beauty.
✨ Moment One: The Return of a Guest Who’s Come Full Circle
As the team chatted to passersby, a man quietly approached, clutching a plastic bag filled with donated items. His steps were steady, but there was emotion behind his eyes. He handed the bag to one of the team and paused for a moment.
“I used to come to Matt’s Café. I was homeless… but now I’m not.”
He didn’t stay long. Just long enough to say thank you, and to give something back to the place that had once given him a meal, a safe seat, and some dignity.
That moment stopped us all in our tracks. Not just because of his words — but because of the pride in his voice, and the lightness in his step.
He didn’t bring just a bag of donations.
He brought a testimony. A reminder that the work matters, that seeds of hope can bloom, and that sometimes, they come walking back through the door, changed and grateful.
🎂 Moment Two: A Birthday Gift for Others
Later that day, a woman arrived pushing a small trolley of food. She was smiling, but there was a tenderness behind it. When we thanked her, she simply said:
“It’s my birthday today. This is what I wanted to do with the money I was given.”
She could have gone out for dinner. She could’ve bought herself something special.
But instead, she chose to give, to bless, and to use her special day to make someone else’s a little easier.
As the team gathered around to help unload the trolley, there were thanks, joy, and a shared sense of something deeper than donation.
That birthday gift wasn’t wrapped — but it was full of love.
🙌 Thank You to Everyone Who Made the Day So Special
To the Tesco staff, to every volunteer who stood for hours with smiles and stories, to every shopper who gave, and especially to those who shared something from the heart — thank you.
This wasn’t just about food.
This was about community, about hope, and about the truth that generosity often comes from the most unexpected places.
We’re proud of our team.
We’re grateful for these moments.
And we’re always in awe of what can happen when people simply show up and give a little of themselves.
#MatthewsHouse #TescoFforestfach #MoreThanFood #HospitalityAndHope #StoriesThatMatter #ActsOfKindness #FromGuestToGiver #BirthdayBlessings #CommunityInAction #ThankYouVolunteers