At the Heart of Rossington: Food, Friendship and Support

When lockdown hit in 2020, Elaine didn't wait to see what would happen. She started the Rossington Food Train, a community food bank, with one goal: make sure people didn't go without.  

At its peak, that meant 200 bags of food a week, delivered by up to 70 volunteers to people who were unable to get out. Not just food either. When the post piled up and there was nobody to collect it, they collected and delivered it too. Whatever people needed, they found a way. 

Five years on, the numbers look different. Around 25 to 30 food parcels go out each week now, and Elaine is quietly pleased about that. People have been getting in touch to say they don't need the support anymore, which is, as she'd tell you, exactly the point.  

There have been difficult moments along the way, but Elaine's resilience always brought things through. 

Alongside the Food Train, Elaine runs the Ark, a community cafe at the heart of Rossington at Holmescarr Centre, Grange Lane. There's a bingo night, a singalong, pottery classes, and hot meals. People come through the door not because they have to, but because they want to. Good food, good company, and a place that's come to mean something to the people who use it. 

None of this happens without a community behind it. Churches, schools, and local businesses have all contributed, and a grant from Well Doncaster has helped keep things moving. Even Kepple Close has played its part. The street's annual Christmas lights display draws families from across Doncaster, and residents have channelled some of that goodwill into donations for them.

The doors at the Ark are open to anyone who needs them - for food, friendship, or support. And for those who’d like to help, volunteering is a great way to be part of it. 

Find out more at: Holmescarr Ark and Crafts Limited