What Does the Lincoln Community Grocery Mean to Me?
The Community Grocery in Lincoln has felt like a part of me from my very first days in the UK. I arrived as an international student with only a lump-sum student loan, so I had to manage my budget very carefully to make it through to graduation. After completing my course, I found myself in a limbo season: finished but unemployed. That was when the Community Grocery adopted me as a volunteer. I gained semi-professional experience, received so much mental support, and eventually found employment. Even now, I still visit often to shop, chat, or ask for a bit of help.
As a Shopper
Shopping at the Community Grocery allows me to live out one of my core values: breaking the supermarket beauty standard. Fruit and vegetables that don’t meet “perfect” shape expectations are still wonderful. A carrot with three legs gives exactly the same nutrients as one shaped like a neat triangle. And even items that have passed their best-before date are usually perfectly good to eat.
Like many Community Grocery shoppers, being able to buy food here helps me keep my life manageable without an overwhelming financial burden. Even though I now have a full-time job, prices keep rising while wages do not, and pressure on immigrants continues to increase. I live with the constant fear that everything could fall apart at any time.
The Community Grocery gives me breathing space. It allows me to save my energy and money for things that will help me grow professionally and contribute more to society in the long run. In my case, I am hoping to take the Statutory Membership Examination to become a licensed veterinary surgeon in the UK. The exam fee alone is around £2,500, and that is only if I pass on the first attempt. Without the support of affordable food, preparing for that would feel impossible.
As a Volunteer
Volunteering at the Community Grocery gave me a strong foundation that helped me move into employment. I received valuable training, especially around Health and Safety regulations, which employers really appreciate. And the soft skills I developed—things like communication, teamwork, and building networks—are things I use every single day.
But above all, volunteering here was my mental lifeline. After finishing my course, my routine disappeared and my classmates moved away. I felt lost and directionless. Volunteering gave me human connection again. It kept my body moving. It gave me something that felt like real work. And the friendships were beautiful.
I had my Friday duo who loves Gracie Abrams just as much as I do. There was a Ukrainian volunteer who is always doing her best to practise and improve her English. There was our wonderful manager who listened compassionately whenever I needed support. And then there was the whole team who made me feel at home, held me in my lowest moments, and celebrated every success with me.
I also loved being part of a community that helps people in real need. I saw moments when people arrived in deep despair and left with visible relief after learning how we could support them. I understood their feelings deeply because I, too, have known what it is like to carry a heavy financial burden.
A Home to Me
The Lincoln Community Grocery is, to me, nothing less than a home. A place where I am welcomed, supported, and able to make a difference to others. I know I am not the only one who feels this way.
My hope is that anyone who feels lost might find their way here too—somewhere they can lay down their worries, grow, become independent and strong, feel proud of themselves, and eventually become their best.
