Foodbank’s shelves stacked
KINTYRE Foodbank officially opened their new premises in the MOK Industrial Estate with help from a former Campbeltonian.
KINTYRE Foodbank welcomed a former Campbeltonian at the ceremony to declare its new premises officially open.
Alastair Blackstock, who went to school in Campbeltown and is the chairman of possibly Scotland’s largest foodbank in Falkirk, watched as Mike Taylor cut the ribbon on Friday of last week.
Before the foodbank moved to its premises at Unit 3, MOK Industrial Estate, it was housed in a Portakabin in the old police station yard owned by Mr Taylor.
Earlier Mr Taylor said: ‘When the Foodbank was first mooted many people said there was no need in Campbeltown, but we have proved there is a need.’
Vice-chair Mary Anne Stewart told people watching, including volunteers and Councillor Anne Horn: ‘Thanks to our committee, their husbands, volunteers, funders, Tesco and Co-op and all the generous people who make donations and special thanks to Mike Taylor, who has been so helpful for years.’
Later Mr Blackstock, who left the Wee Toon in 1967, spoke about Falkirk Foodbank.
He said: ‘I would rather foodbanks did not exist. We opened in 2012 and cover a larger area than even the Glasgow and Dundee foodbanks.
‘I first volunteered for half a day from 10am to 1pm, but I was still there at 5pm and with- in six months was the chairman.
Peaks and troughs
‘At the moment there is a steady stream of people to our foodbank. There are peaks and troughs in demand but no rhyme or reason as to why.’
Last week Mr Blackstock brought a dozen boxes of fresh bakery products to top up Kintyre Foodbank’s stocks.