Redditch: Boy asks for food bank donations over birthday presents

Instead of focusing on the usual fanfare of a party and presents, Isaac Winfield is asking people to deposit food and tins instead. 

The youngster will celebrate his 13th birthday on Friday (October 4) and plans to spend his big day helping feed those in need.

Isaac even plans to give any birthday cakes or treats to people struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Isaac has already set up five foodbanks for people in his hometown of Redditch, Worcs., and wants to do even more to help people make ends meet.

He has also bought a shipping container to store excess goods and enlists the help of 10 volunteers to work on five sites throughout Worcestershire.

His charitable work has been so successful, businesses in the town donated a van so he can pick up and deliver food parcels around the area.

Proud mum Claire, 44, said she wasn’t surprised her selfless son was thinking of others instead of himself on his birthday.

“He turns 13 on Friday and all he wants is donations to his food bank. 

“I have got him one present but aside from that, it’s just donations.

“What he wants more than anything is to fill his van top to bottom.

“He wants to make the pile of donations as big as possible. He’s asking all his family and friends to just donate food. 

“We’ve got quite a few drop off points. The team at Tesco are organising a collection for him and the staff at Asda are too. 

“If any local businesses want to, we’re encouraging them to get in touch to donate. We’ve also had a lovely lady do a click and collect for him.”

Isaac set up his first foodbank on his driveway during Covid lockdown and started posting appeals on Facebook.

His ‘Friends of Isaac’s Foodbank’ page went viral with hundreds of wellwishers donating food and tins.  

Last year his foodbank handed out over 5,000 food parcels and Claire believes they will top 6,000 by this December.

Isaac Winfield (Image: SWNS)

She added: “Isaac is very generous and very giving. This has been his passion for almost four years now. It’s what he wants to do. 

“He’s up and he’s out there, he fundraises like crazy. It’s what he loves, he loves seeing the smiles on people’s faces.”

Isaac’s amazing work started in 2020 when he was denied the chance to donate food to his school foodbank due to Covid restrictions.

Claire said: “In 2020 he couldn’t donate to the foodbanks through school because of Covid. 

“He had a little pop-up greenhouse on the driveway and he started getting more and more donations and the pop-up greenhouse didn’t last.

“Then he had a shed. Now he’s on his third shed. We had a massive 6x8 shed on the driveway. 

“Then on Christmas 2022 he opened a second site in Redditch. Then in 2023 he opened a further three sites. 

“At Christmas he does a toy campaign, he does the same with Easter eggs at Easter.

“This year he’s bought a shipping container for all of his goods. So it’s a storage site. 

“He’s got an essential warehouse for all his food stuff. The shipping container is for all his excess goods.

“Last year he sent over 5,000 parcels, this year we reckon 6,000. We’re appointment only, we’re open seven days a week. 

“Through technology we can open sites up. And we have a team of volunteers who are good. Around about ten active volunteers. 

“Marcus Rashford is his inspiration, and it’s his dream to meet him. He was watching him with his three school meals scheme. 

“He loves football and that was a lot of the driving force.”
Isaac hopes to open his own foodbank shop when he leaves school. 

Claire, who has three other children, added: “He’s looking to open a couple more sites, either this year or early next year. 

“He wants to open a shop but I told him he had to wait until he finished school.”