As another year comes to a close, we at Gratitude reflect on the incredible achievements, heartwarming initiatives, and unwavering dedication of our volunteers, donors, and supporters in 2024. This year has been defined by innovation, growth, and a continued commitment to creating a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve.
Here’s a look back at the milestones and highlights that shaped our year.
Supporting Our Community
Gratitude’s Groceries Giveaway continued to provide vital support to over 1,200 individuals every week, distributing thousands of tonnes of fresh, nutritious food saved from waste. This essential program ensures families have access to healthy meals while reducing food waste.
Meanwhile, Kid’s Corner brought joy and support to local families, offering essential supplies like baby items, toys, and school uniforms. The program also created lasting memories through cherished events such as an Easter egg hunt, a spooky Halloween Grotto, and a magical Santa’s Grotto, which delighted over 200 children.
Gratitude Community Kitchen: Nourishing the Community
The Gratitude Community Kitchen played a central role in 2024, preparing and delivering 75 food bags per week to 4 local schools during the school year—an impressive total of 2,925 food bags over 39 weeks.
Additionally, the kitchen prepared 500 sandwiches and takeaway meals for the homeless and baked 1,008 mince pies during the festive season, spreading joy to vulnerable individuals during Christmas. Any surplus food was redistributed to other charities and our dedicated volunteers, ensuring nothing went to waste.
The Gratitude Community Kitchen embodies our mission to tackle food waste and hunger, showcasing the power of collective effort in making a difference.
Gratitude Upcycle Store: A Milestone in Sustainability
Opened in early 2024, the Gratitude Upcycle Store at the Barnet Spires Shopping Centre has become a cornerstone of our mission to promote sustainability while supporting the community.
The store specialises in upcycling donated items, offering a curated selection of furniture and household goods that might otherwise have gone to waste. It is entirely volunteer-run, with a dedicated team sorting, cleaning, and displaying donations.
Proceeds from the store directly fund Gratitude’s initiatives, including the Groceries Giveaway, Kid’s Corner, and Creative Club. Over the year, the store diverted tonnes of materials from landfills, reinforcing Gratitude’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
Gratitude’s Environmental Program: Caring for the Planet
In 2024, Gratitude expanded its environmental efforts by launching a litter-picking program. Volunteers cleaned local parks and public spaces, creating safer, cleaner areas for everyone to enjoy.
These efforts complemented Gratitude’s existing environmental initiatives, such as the community bulb planting events, which transformed public spaces into vibrant displays of colour and beauty. Together, these projects emphasised the importance of environmental responsibility while strengthening community connections.
Mitzvah Day 2024: Stronger Together
Mitzvah Day 2024 was a shining example of the power of community collaboration. Gratitude hosted a Cookathon, where volunteers prepared meals for local veterans, providing nourishment and support to those who served our country.
Gratitude also collaborated with Bevis Marks and Lauderdale Road synagogues to support the homeless for Mitzvah Day. Volunteers at the synagogues assembled care packages including donated clothing and essential winter items. These parcels were then collected by Gratitude and shared with the homeless charity ProjectGIVING ensuring they were distributed directly to those most in need. This collaboration exemplified the power of community partnerships in providing warmth and support to vulnerable individuals.
Creative Club: Crafting Comfort and Joy
In 2024, the Gratitude Creative Club created over 1,000 handmade items, spreading warmth and happiness. Volunteers crafted premature baby hats, clothes, blankets, and bonding sets, as well as toys and seasonal gifts for children during Easter, Halloween, and Christmas.
For elderly wards, the club provided lap blankets, hats, scarves, and tweedle muffs, which proved invaluable for patients with dementia, autism, or Alzheimer’s. Doctors noted these muffs helped improve communication and engagement, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of the club’s efforts.
The Creative Club’s work embodies the spirit of compassion, bringing joy to some of the community’s most vulnerable members.
Stepping into Success: School Shoes Giveaway
In August, Gratitude also hosted its annual School Shoes Giveaway, providing 50 pairs of shoes to children in the community, ensuring they could begin the school year with confidence and dignity.
Schools Engagement
London Academy First Give Grant: Following a presentation by Gabby, Students from The London Academy in Edgware were awarded first prize in a competition securing a grant for Gratitude through the First Give program, highlighting the impact of youth advocacy and engagement.
Fostering Growth with Yavneh College Students
This year, Gratitude welcomed students from Yavneh College for a unique volunteering program. These students, who often find traditional classrooms challenging, participated in preparing and setting up service activities while exploring topics like purpose, giving back, and gratitude. Through their contributions and reflections, they demonstrated growth and engagement, highlighting the transformative power of community service.
Visits from key leaders
Visit from Sir Oliver Dowden:
On July 19th, 2024, Gratitude welcomed Sir Oliver Dowden KCB CBE, the local MP for Hertsmere, to our hub. His visit underscored the vital role grassroots organisations like Gratitude play in supporting communities.
Cllr Jeremy Newmark:
Cllr Jeremy Newmark, Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, visited Gratitude to acknowledge the charity’s role in providing essential services and fostering a sense of belonging within the community. He engaged with volunteers and expressed admiration for their dedication, emphasising the council’s appreciation for Gratitude’s work.
Mayor Cllr Al Collins:
During his visit, Mayor Cllr Al Collins recognised Gratitude as a vital lifeline for the local community. He expressed gratitude for the charity’s innovative programs, including the Upcycle Store and environmental initiatives, and highlighted the importance of Gratitude’s continued efforts to address food poverty and sustainability.
The Heart of Gratitude: Volunteers and Community Events
Gratitude’s success is driven by the dedication of over 100 volunteers, who contribute their time and skills to ensure our programs run smoothly. From managing food donations to operating the Upcycle Store and assisting with maintenance projects, their efforts are the backbone of everything we do.
Acknowledging Our Gratitude Family
None of Gratitude’s achievements in 2024 would have been possible without the incredible efforts of those who support us daily. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our trustees for their invaluable guidance and support throughout the year, steering Gratitude’s mission with care and dedication.
We are also deeply grateful to our volunteers, who work tirelessly every day to collect donations from supermarkets, ensuring a steady flow of resources to support our programs. Behind the scenes, our administration team handles vital tasks, from managing logistics to keeping operations running smoothly.
It is thanks to these individuals—the backbone of Gratitude—that we can continue to deliver life-changing support to our community. Your commitment and kindness inspire everything we do.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible efforts of our volunteers, donors, and supporters. From launching the Gratitude Upcycle Store to expanding our environmental programs and supporting vulnerable individuals through initiatives like Mitzvah Day, this year has been a testament to the power of compassion and collaboration.
In 2025, we look forward to building on these successes, growing our programs, and continuing to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Thank You!
To everyone who contributed to Gratitude’s mission this year—you are the heart of everything we do.
Let’s continue to create a world where no one is left behind, and every act of kindness inspires another.
Creative club photos by Valeria Fazekas
