14 DONATIONS Fight against poverty hits the streets
Campaign group helps charities
The fight against poverty took to the streets of East Kilbride with a stall in the town centre collecting muchneeded donations for worthwhile local causes.
The stall, organised by new group Challenge Poverty in EK, was set up as a donation point for local food banks and to accept children’s clothes for charity Swap and Save One Stop Shop in Strathmore House as part of Challenge Poverty Week.
And once again the people of East Kilbride turned out in force to show their support with 10 large bags of shopping for food banks collected and over £60 in donations to be split between Loaves & Fishes, EK Community Food Bank and EK Back to School Bank.
There was also leaflets about all the different local services that can help at the event last weekend.
Murray man, Iain Hughes, founder of Homeless at Christmas organisation, was also there to take advantage of the group’s ‘Write To Someone You Miss This Christmas’ campaign, exclusive Christmas cards with envelopes that already have the stamp attached, supported by East Kilbride’s CA MediaPrint and the Royal Mail.
In line with the aims of Challenge Poverty Week, group members were also doing a street survey to highlight the reality of poverty in the town, challenge the stereotypes that exist about it and increase public support for more action to solve poverty.
With statistics from the End Child Poverty Campaign showing that just under a quarter of children in the East Kilbride South ward are living below the breadline and the News Challenge Poverty in EK group members call for action during Challenge Poverty Week
highlighting the plight of food banks in the town, the issue is more relevant than ever.
Challenge Poverty in EK Group members, Kirsten Robb and Iain Hughes, said:“There are so many great people and organisations in the town working to address poverty.
“And with child poverty in the town averaging about 20 per cent and only set to rise, we wanted to bring people together locally to see what else could be done.
“We kicked things off at a talk in June with the Poverty Alliance and EK resident and prize-winning author Darren McGarvey.
“Now, responding to local food banks’empty shelves, we organised this street stall for Challenge Poverty Week.
“I would just like to say a huge thank you to all the people who helped, shared their stories, donated and made contacts to help each other in the future.”
She added:“Beyond October, we will continue working together to plan longer term actions and projects that can reduce poverty.”
Peter Kelly, director of The Poverty Alliance, said: “It’s unacceptable that so many of us are trapped in the grip of poverty.
“Poverty restricts the choices people can make, leaving them in impossible situations like choosing either to heat their home or pay their rent. With rising living costs and unstable work, our economy is holding people down and stopping many from choosing their own path.
“We can solve poverty by loosening its grip on people. Benefits help release people from the restrictions our economy places on them, such as low pay and high housing costs.”