When Samantha from Skegness, UK first heard about Olio through her partner, she was in a difficult place. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, undergoing several operations, and having a double mastectomy, she could only work part time – effectively halving her income. Some days she found herself “living off rice and beans… or a tin of soup.”
Living in an area with no shops nearby made things even harder. Every food trip required a drive, and even that was becoming overwhelming.
When Samantha downloaded Olio, nothing appeared in her area at first. She felt disheartened – until she expanded her search to the nearest large town.
“I expanded my search to the next large town near me and that’s where I spotted what Olio was about. I saw loads of food being offered for free and thought, right, someone needs to be doing it for the people around here.”
That thought sparked action. She booked her first collection immediately. Nervous about breaking any rules, she collected sandwiches from Boots, listed everything, and kept one for herself. Her next pickup, a Save Me collection, brought far more food than she expected.
“My large fridge went from practically empty to nicely full, without having to worry about how I was going to pay for food.”
At first, Samantha used Olio solely to collect and share unsold food. As time went on, she began collecting a few items for herself too – including a houseplant that’s now thriving in her conservatory.
As her confidence grew, Samantha began helping those around her and spreading the word. She shared food with local Olio-ers, supported her elderly parents, and in due course became both a Supporter and an Ambassador. Now she spreads the word about Olio on her community Facebook page, and distributes flyers through neighbours’ doors.
“So far I’ve only had 3 different people come to me, but I’m hoping that will change as word gets out.”
Samantha’s journey shows how powerful it can be when one person decides to make a change. Olio supported her when she needed it most and now she’s quietly helping to bring that same support to the people around her.
What does Olio mean to you?
“Olio has literally been my lifesaver. I’ve sadly had ill health over the last 7 years. I’ve used all my savings and I’ve struggled financially, but Olio has given me a chance to have a little breather and has saved me having to spend a lot on food for myself. Now it’s my turn to help other people where I can.”