When Lisa from Leeds, UK first joined Olio in May 2025, she was going through a difficult time. Friends had encouraged her to give it a try when she needed a bit of extra help, so she decided to download the app and sign up.
Her first request was for free food.
“When I needed help for the first time, I picked something up from Olio. It was food, and it made a huge difference at the time.”
In those early weeks, Lisa was collecting surplus food from her local volunteers. One of her first regular collections was from Lilly – starting with a request for sandwiches. At first, their exchanges were simple and practical.
“After a few times of going there, I realised we had started to slowly become friends.”
As Lisa continued collecting from Lilly more frequently, their conversations grew more familiar and the friendship deepened.
“The moment I realised we had become friends was awesome. She’s amazing, and we still talk often.”
Over time, Lisa began doing more with the free food she picked up from volunteers as a way to give back.
She started cooking meals – often some pasta or a vegetable curry – and sharing them with people experiencing homelessness in her area. Other times, she hands out sandwiches when she sees someone in need.
“It makes me happy knowing that I’ve helped people.”
Looking back, what’s stayed with Lisa most isn’t the free food itself, but the connections that came with it.
“My biggest surprise from using Olio was that I met new people and had the opportunity to give back to others.”
Olio has since become part of her routine – and a friendship she didn’t expect has become part of her life.
What does Olio mean to you?
For Lisa, Olio means more than just sharing food. It’s about kindness, community, and the quiet joy of helping others.
“Olio means a lot to me. If it wasn’t for Olio, I wouldn’t have met my friend Lilly. Thank you very much.”