Jim teams up with Stars
Saints gaffer helps out
A Paisley charity was given a star-studded helping hand from St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin, who helped deliver food to vulnerable residents.
Dedicated staff and volunteers were delighted to welcome the Saints gaffer along to the Wallace Street offices to help hand out parcels to hundreds of Buddies.
The generous football manager donned the personal protective equipment and rolled up his sleeves alongside other volunteers - and will now be coming along every week to help the team.
The Star Project has been working closely with the St Mirren’s Charitable Foundation since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown to help people in the community.
After hearing about the hard work being done, Jim was keen to go along and help, alongside the club’s media manager James Hunter.
Project coordinator Heather Kay said: “They were just fantastic and it was a great surprise to have them come along and help.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they were such a great help and they were there right from the start until the very end of the day.
“Jim even made everyone tea and we were rushed off our feet all day.
“They couldn’t have been nicer guys and they were so interested in everything that we have been doing the past few weeks.
“It was great to have them there and I think they are now planning to come back every Thursday to help out, which is just amazing.”
In recent weeks, the Star Project has offered food, digital workshops and telephone advice to hundreds of Buddies.
Last week, a total of 207 bags of food were delivered with the help of 38 volunteers.
The charity also held eight digital drop in sessions, made well-being calls to 128 residents and delivered online sessions to 51 people through their Wee Stars programme for youngsters.
Staff have been left overwhelmed at the support from the community as they try and help as many people as possible,
Heather added: “Everyone has just been brilliant.
“It has been absolutely relentless and we are just so busy.
“It would not be possible to do what we are doing without the help of our volunteers.”
Gayle Brannigan, chief executive of the St Mirren Charitable Trust, said: “The team are frustrated just now and were really keen to get out and help in the community in any way that they can.
“Jim had been asking about the work we were doing and wanted to know if there was any way he could help out.
“So I thought helping to deliver parcels would be a good way for them to get involved.
“They absolutely loved it.”
Jim now hopes to be going out most weeks to the Star Project, and will be delivering parcels to the residents - which Gayle said could be a nice surprise for a football fan.
She added: “It would be a great way to lift people’s spirits if the manager of their team came to their door.”
Jim even made everyone tea and we were rushed off our feet all day Heather Kay