Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
A heartfelt thanks from foodbank
Community rally round to help after break-in
Volunteers from Coatbridge foodbank have thanked the local community for rushing to their assistance after their premises were ransacked four days before Christmas.
Residents, organisations and businesses have continued to inundate the good cause with donations of food and money – with the latter allowing the foodbank to cover their costs for several months.
Foodbank director James Dempsey was deeply touched by the generosity shown and told the Advertiser: “The true spirit of Christmas prevailed.”
He said of the break-in: “We wish to thank everyone who came to our aid.
“Our neighbours in Minuteman Print, Millbank Painters, and Select Blinds were at our side in an instant.
“Innumerable people responded on social media, and many came to our door bearing gifts to replace the foods and toiletries stolen, and particularly the gifts and selection boxes we had gathered for young children and elderly loved ones in our community.”
He added special thanks to Glenboig councillor Michael McPake, North Lanarkshire Council, Coatbridge representatives Fulton MacGregor MSP and Hugh Gaffney MP, Albion Rovers FC and the “countless hundreds of people who came to our aid to ensure business as usual for families in need”.
The break-in saw a metal shutter door being ripped open, causing thousands of pounds of damage.
Donated items including confectionery, toiletries and gifts were taken.
Several bags of the items were recovered by police.
A donations webpage has topped £ 9500, and many more supporters have donated offline.
Foodbank volunteer co- ordinator Angela Easton told the Advertiser: “The response has been absolutely outstanding – the community has been so supportive and we can’t thank everyone enough.
“We are a charity and pay for rent and electricity – that money will let us breathe and keep us going for a while.”
She added: “We had so many people visiting with donations the next day and ever since and every time the phone goes, it’s someone offering help.
“There were calls from other foodbanks offering help, but the public have been so amazing that we didn’t need to take them up.
“It has just been amazing and we want to say thank you to the whole community and for them to know how much we appreciate everything they’ve done.”
Donations can be made at the foodbank’s premises on Coatbank Street or on their JustGiving page.
People responded on social media and many came to our door too bearing gifts James Dempsey, Foodbank director