Staff at a non-profit food hub have paid tribute to a ‘guardian angel’ volunteer after he passed away following a heart operation.

Andy Kelly, 67, has played an incremental role in the Wycombe Food Hub, a non-profit organisation that distributes surplus supermarket produce across local communities in need, since its inception in 2020.

Alongside founders Trevor Snaith, Khalil Ahmed and the late Bob Kin, Andy helped to bring the initiative, conceived to help people impacted economically by the Covid-19 pandemic, to fruition and has been a much-loved volunteer presence ever since. 

Trevor, who is chairman of the hub, which is located in the Chilterns Shopping Centre in High Wycombe, has now led tributes to his friend Andy, who sadly passed away last week after undergoing a heart operation.

He said: “Andy was a really honest, genuine fellow. He was a good community presence, and he has helped so many people over the years.

“He volunteered all through Covid and administered injections. It is a real loss.”

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A spokesperson for the hub also remembered Andy for his “empathy” and “selflessness” in a Facebook post written yesterday (September 21).

They said: “Andy’s life was a profound testament to the transformative power of goodness. His commitment to Wycombe Food Hub’s charitable work was unwavering, a tireless effort to uplift those less fortunate.

"He didn’t measure his impact in years but in the countless lives he touched. He was a guardian angel to the less fortunate, embodying the very essence of empathy.

“His generosity knew no bounds. He saw suffering in the world and was moved to act, whether it was providing food to the homeless or those who couldn’t afford it.

"He formed genuine connections with the individuals he served, listening to their stories, sharing in their joys and sorrows and offering not just resources but his friendship and unwavering support.

“Andy’s life was a living testament to the beauty of selflessness in a world often overshadowed by self-interest. He served as a guiding light, a reminder that a single person’s actions can ignite hope, transform lives and inspire others to follow in his footsteps.

“We remember and honour this remarkable man. In doing so, we ensure that he will never truly be gone; he will remain a wellspring of inspiration and goodness in our hearts.”