Food bank available to everyone in need
Kintyre Food Bank is reminding people its services are available to everyone.
To stick to social distancing during lockdown, South Kintyre Development Trust (SKDT) allowed the food bank to use Campbeltown Town Hall as its temporary base.
Kintyre Community Resilience Group (KCRG) also provided volunteers to assist with the food bank as many of its regular volunteers are older and therefore in the ‘at risk’ category.
Eric Spence, SKDT manager and KCRG area co-ordinator, said: ‘Over the last eight weeks we have provided food parcels and toiletries to more than 80 individuals and their families.
‘A number of people have been furloughed, while others have lost their main sources of income as a result of the pandemic.’
As a result of these extenuating circumstances, the food bank’s normal procedures have been suspended, meaning a referral from another agency is no longer required, and all those in need – who are not already receiving food parcels from Argyll and Bute Council – are welcome to use its services.
Those in need can simply turn up at the side entrance of the town hall between 10am and noon on Tuesdays and Fridays and explain their situation to staff. The food bank may be able to deliver to those who are shielding and unable to leave their house or have difficulties getting out and about.
Eric added: ‘The volunteers are there to help, not to judge, and privacy and discretion will be shown at all times. Most of our food is donated to us by shops, including Tesco and the Co-op, and individuals, and we are extremely grateful for their continued support.’
Mary-Anne Stewart, chairwoman of Kintyre Food Bank, said: ‘We are grateful to Eric and thank him for this support.’
Councillor John Armour, who has been involved with KCRG since it was established, said he was ‘delighted but not surprised’ to see everyone involved pulling together.
‘Kintyre is an exceptional place to stay with so many looking out for each other.’
The food bank has received a financial boost from Campbeltown Community Council. Community councillor Catherine Dobbie applied to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks’ Resilient Communities Fund and was ‘delighted’ to be awarded £1,550 which was split equally between Kintyre Food Bank, Shopper-Aide and SKDT.