We catch up with Notjust Surplus project at there Wellington site to see what happens when you get a call from B & M Bargains in Corby saying we have 30 pallets of goods for you. Lovely but a logisitical nightmare. We find out more.
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00:00So we're here at the Not Just Surplus Project and we're here with Leigh who runs the show, how you doing Leigh?
00:04I'm alright but I'm quite overwhelmed, it's been an absolutely crazy two days, it's been a good week.
00:10It's been insane hasn't it really? Just fill us in, you've had B&M got in touch, you've forwarded some links with them in the past.
00:18B&M Corby, a few miles away, they got in touch and what did they say to you?
00:23So basically they'd got 30 pallets, they'd had some staff shortages and not been able to get the stock out so it was all under tarpaulins outside but hadn't actually made it in the store.
00:35So there was a lot of wet, damaged stock, most of the top boxes and the outside boxes and it was just masses and masses of toys.
00:46We've got Barbie dolls, we've got little creatures, we've got stock toys, there's cushions, there's throws, there's so many bits and pieces, there's a kitchen, a bathroom, there were bedding, all sorts of things.
01:00So we've been going through and pulling out what we can really fast, our priority for Christmas was to do the toys.
01:07So we totally picked the pallets, we loaded them all into the van, then last night we were so lucky a wonderful family came round and helped us to open every single box to pick out all the dry stock.
01:18And then the wet stock that could be saved, if it dried out it would be fine, we've put in these big green bins and they're going to be available probably in the new year.
01:27And you put the word out on the socials in this morning, you had tons of people down in here this morning.
01:32I'll tell you something, we had to delay by an hour because we had some issues with getting timings wrong and so the queue was all the way round the store and then because it was so big we had to move the queue so that it was in the car park instead rather than people up in the store.
01:49Hannah it's crazy, I mean how do you move 30 pallets, you've had a bit of help haven't you?
01:53Oh we've had a bit of help from Simmons Transport, Louise, she messaged us a while ago saying if ever you need any help, and we can help, we will.
02:02And the best bit of it, they were making a delivery out to Northampton anyway so they had a lorry over there that could just grab these pallets and bring them back.
02:10It was a little bit scary to start with when we got there because they wanted us to make a note of every single product number and how many were in each box and then one of them spotted that there was a label on each pallet so we were able to do it much much faster.
02:25But 30 pallets is a lot of stock and it's filled our unit.
02:28Well you've had your own issues, one van had one issue that you were using, the other van was knackered as well.
02:36And the crazy thing is when you do this, the deal is B&M say you can have this stuff but you've got to offer it out for free, that's the deal isn't it?
02:47So ironically you've got all this stuff that's coming, amazing, but actually as a kind of organisation it's cost you a bit of money hasn't it?
02:56Quite a bit, it's cost us around about £1,500.
03:00Because we didn't have to pay for the lorry, that's brilliant, we've had to hire a van because one of our van's brakes went on it the night before and then the other van which we were going to take, the engine blew up on it yesterday so we've ended up really stuck.
03:12But that's not the cost, the cost is we have people to pay, we've got fuel to cover and all these other bits and pieces to do with it.
03:20So just to kind of make that mental note that you have all this to come in but you always need donations because it costs you money to do this doesn't it?
03:28It's going to cost me about £500 or £600 just for cardboard waste for removal of the wet cardboard so it's nice to do that.
03:36But I'm happy to see the smiles on people's faces and watching people go round and picking knowing they can have a free toy for Christmas is amazing.
03:45We've also got Christmas decorations, we've got wrapping, we've got sacks, we've got all sorts.
03:51So we're at your site in Wellington but the goods have been distributed across a number of sites haven't they?
03:55Yeah, so we took them over to Maggie's store, they've dropped off some this morning, we had a bit of an emergency call saying can you drop some more so we did that.
04:05We shut early today there and then also I opened for an hour in Halesfield and we had a couple of families come over there.
04:12It's the other side of Telford and anyone that was struggling for transport could get to us.
04:16So I guess the word on the street is, you know, this is all going to be gone by the end of today's there.
04:22Well, we shut at 4pm the shop but we open again at 7.45pm till 8.45pm for our massive food share.
04:32So is the van still full at the moment?
04:34Which one?
04:36The Yorkshire Pudding thing, this one here.
04:38Are you able to come round?
04:40As in this evening?
04:42As in this evening from 7.45pm to 8.45pm we've got all this food to give away for free.
04:48This is full.
04:50So we've got here Toad in the Holes, we've got a pallet of dips, we've also got a pallet of sausages, the Edward sausages, to give away completely free.
05:02As well as three Aldi's that have been donated, Sneddill, Wellington and Market Drayton.
05:14And then we've also got two Marks and Spencers, the Town Centre, Marks and Spencers and the one out in Bridge North and the co-op next to the Bridge North that we're picking from tonight.
05:24And that's approximately three vans worth of food.
05:27That will all come into this back area onto tables and then people can come along tonight for the hour and it will be Christmas food galore.
05:35It really will.
05:37And so it's completely free, we do ask for a donation if people can make it of about £3 per family to come along and have whatever they need.
05:45And the need, it doesn't go away does it?
05:47No.
05:49People are struggling even more and more.
05:51But this isn't just for people in need now.
05:53Tonight is about saving that food from going to waste.
05:55I want anybody to come.
05:57If you drive a Bentley and a Rolls Royce, get your arse down here and just have some of this food.
06:01Because there's no way I want it to go into landfill and it would have done.
06:03So we need to save it.
06:05Especially the chilled stuff because we won't be able to save it because of the dates.
06:09So do you get a day to relax tomorrow Lee?
06:13Well actually funny enough my partner's over so I've got two days off now.
06:17Two whole days Lee.
06:19Two whole days.
06:21Well thank you for all your hard work Lee.
06:23And you know what you're doing is amazing.
06:25Like you say, you're helping people in need.
06:27But like you've just pointed out, it's not just about that.
06:29Otherwise a lot of this stuff, this wasteful society, you're preventing some of that happening.
06:35Do you know what I mean?
06:37I would like to be paid one day as well.
06:39That'd be nice wouldn't it?
06:41So I've been doing this for five years and it's hard work.
06:43But the thing is I just don't know how to stop because it's such grown and grown and grown.
06:47It just is what it is.
06:49But there's no money in this for me.
06:52It's just watching people be happy.
06:54Awesome work. Well thanks ever so much for all you and the team do Lee.
07:00I can't show any more clips you guys.
07:02Molly, hello madam, how are you?
07:04I'm good thank you.
07:06So you're here with the Little Ones, what do you think of what they do here?
07:08It's good to be honest.
07:10It's amazing isn't it really?
07:12Especially if you've got low income.
07:14And is it Christmas a time where you struggle yourself?
07:16I think everyone's struggling aren't they?
07:18This year yes, we lost my mum last year.
07:20I've not really thought about Christmas until this month to be honest.
07:24And then all of a sudden it's here isn't it?
07:26It just seems to spring upon.
07:28So you've got the Little Ones with you, have they managed to pick some nice stuff have they?
07:30Two out of three have.
07:32She's still digging.
07:34She's still digging.
07:36So what have you picked young lady?
07:38What have you picked?
07:40Is that like a little Barbie set is it?
07:42Yeah.
07:44Cool.
07:46So what do you think about Lee and the gang here doing the hard work
07:48so that people can get gifts?
07:50It's nice isn't it?
07:52Yeah a bit of good Christmas spirit.
07:54Well thanks ever so much Mol
07:56and we wish you and the family a nice Christmas.