Bakery serves up hope for those most in need
A family bakers has been praised to the hilt by a community trust for helping those in need during the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Del’s Rolls, in Prestwick’s Glenburn Road, has supported countless numbers of people who’ve experienced difficulties over the last few months.
The firm, which has two bakeries in Glenburn Road, Prestwick and New Road in Ayr, has been busy baking, then donating, bread and rolls for the less fortunate at a local foodbank.
Bruce Bunten is the co- ordinator for the Riverside Community Trust, based in Riverside Church on John Street, Ayr.
He takes up the story: “Our main project is Care & Share.
“Normally, each Wednesday we would provide a drop- in for those prone to homelessness and/ or in addiction.
“There people would get a hot meal and access to service provision, such as NHS Addiction nurses, Seascape, DWP, Ayrshire Housing etc.
“However, due to the current circumstances we are not able to provide this service.
“Instead, since lockdown commenced, we have been providing a foodbank service and outreach service.
“To date we have helped approximately 1400 people, including children and families.”
And Bruce explained what a massive help it’s been to have the assistance of Del’s Rolls, who’ve been regular contributors to the foodbank.
He said: “For a good part of this time Del’s Rolls, in Prestwick, have been supplying bread and rolls for the foodbank on a twice weekly basis.
“They have made such a difference and we’re very grateful to them.”
The foodbank is now winding down but Bruce is indebted to the family firm for the way they have supported the trust’s work in the community these last few months.
Claire McCallum, whose father Derek is the Del’s Rolls owner, said: “Every Tuesday and Thursday we would take bread and rolls up to the trust.
“It’s all about giving a wee bit back to the community, I guess.
“Obviously it’s been a difficult time for everyone so what we did was make up a donation and make sure it was a substantial amount that people could get.
“It worked out that we donated four or five baskets, twice a week. “We just wanted to do our bit.” Claire also revealed how bakery giants Kingsmill also chipped into the cause.
She said: “We do a lot of work
with Kingsmill and we gave them Kingsmill bread as well as our own make.”
She added: “The good thing is that the bread is going somewhere to someone who needs it and we were happy to help.”