Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Foodbank bowled over by kind-hearted donations
Big-hearted bowlers provided a huge boost to a good cause as they took to the greens in the return of their annual charity day.
Members and friends of Gartsherrie bowling club filled a large van with donated items to stock the shelves of Coatbridge foodbank – as well as collecting more than £1000 in donations which they spent on a further shopping list of most-needed items.
They staged the 2022 event in memory of club captain Jim Mcmullen, who passed away earlier this year; and their impressive efforts for the charity were honoured with a motion of congratulations at the Scottish Parliament.
Club members have been running the annual charity day for nearly a decade, with the fundraising event originally being started by past president Scott Fulton in memory of his late father-in-law, Andrew Quinn, who sadly died of cancer in 2013.
They have raised funds for various charities including hospice care; and as the event returned this year for the first time since the Covid pandemic, organisers chose to support the work of the local foodbank – which last month issued a crisis appeal amid soaring demand.
Scott and club president John Greenshields led the committee organising the successful day, which saw nearly 50 club members and friends enjoy bowling at the Coatbridge club as well as taking part in raffles and special events.
The charity day was a fitting tribute to much-loved Gartsherrie captain Jim, who had been a club member since the 1970s.
Scott said: “He was an absolute gentleman – he was born and raised in Townhead and was a lovely family man, quite unassuming and who would help with anything.
“After his passing earlier this year, we just thought it would be nice for him to be recognised by dedicating the charity day in his memory; and the support we’ve had from the people of Gartsherrie and Townhead has been magnificent.
“Everybody who came along to play brought items for the foodbank which filled a Transit van when they came along to collect it; we also had a big donation from Townhead Primary and a local resident called Tracy Ann Richardson who brought along bags of things.
“The charity day has bowlers and non-bowlers and anyone who wants to get involved can come along and give bowls a try; between donations and raffles we raised £1062 which we then took to Tesco with a list the foodbank had given us of the things they most needed, like toiletries, baby food and meals in a tin, and got as much as possible.
“We wanted to support a local charity close to home and had seen Coatbridge foodbank’s appeal, and they were over the moon with what we were able to give them. We’re really pleased with how the day went and we’ve raised around £10,000 in total for different good causes since we started the charity day nine years ago.”
Gartsherrie’s event was sponsored by David Mcarthur of Holemasters Scotland, and guests on the day included local MSP Fulton Macgregor and Coatbridge North councillor Bill Shields.
Mr Macgregor congratulated the club on the event by tabling a motion at the Scottish Pariament commending their “terrific fundraising efforts”, praising the organising committee and acknowledging “the strength of having an asset such as Gartsherrie bowling club in communities across the country”.