Community plans hampers for elderly
THE city centre community i s r a l l y i n g a r ou nd pensioners this festive season – with the Lord Provost of Glasgow set to help distribute hampers to those in need.
Members of Garnethill Community Watch decided to put a smile back on the faces of our elderly and the group have gone out of their way to source goods for festive parcels.
Due to coronavirus restrictions, Lord Provost Philip Braat will join the group outside the Garnethill Multicultural Centre as they distribute the hampers at 3.30pm on December 14.
Ahead of the event, the Lord Provost said: “I think it’s very important that we not only provide people with sufficient food during this second lockdown, but I think with the darker nights coming in, it is very important that we make sure that nobody feels isolated.
“Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, many of our elderly members in our communities will be isolated, will feel isolated and may not have any other family members around them at this difficult time.
“Looking at the long- term impact of the coronavirus pandemic – and this doesn’t just affect the elderly in our community – is the impact that it will have on mental health. I think, whatever we can do to give some members of the community who may feel slightly isolated at this time a pick- me- up is always to be welcomed.
“I’d like to thank Bill and other members at the Garnethill neighbourhood watch for everything that they are doing for their community to help the less fortunate.”
Bill Beckett, who runs the Garnethill Community Watch, is offering advice to city centre residents on how to look out for the elderly in the area over Christmas and New Year.
He said:
“If the local community want to join in, I would suggest they make up some food parcels over the next couple of weeks. They’d be warmly welcomed.
“We’d also ask our local community to check up on their elderly community, especially at this time of the year. Some could be sitting very lonely and not have anyone.
“By just making sure that they’re safe, they have everything that they need and just having a little chat with them – it can go a long way.”
“It’s mainly young people who reside in the city centre, we don’t have many pensioners. But the pensioners that we do have, we really care about them.”
A little chat can go a long way