Co-op staff look to combat loneliness

Halfway store raising money for those alone at Xmas

Vulnerable residents in Halfway are set to enjoy a Christmas treat thanks to big-hearted staff at the Co-op store.

Workers ran a tombola over the weekend to raise money for a festive lunch that will help tackle loneliness.

Store manager Annemarie McKenzie said she was inspired to act after seeing customers who came back regularly to speak to staff.

She said: “As a company we have been raising money for the Red Cross this year and that is being used to tackle loneliness.

“I thought we were doing this and then sending the money away but not actually seeing it being used here, in the community.

“We are a wee shop and we have people who come in numerous times just for a blether.

“We have one customer who comes in about 10 times a day. He owned businesses in the area and comes in every day for the company.

“We have another who comes in every morning for his paper and then after work he’ll be in for 45 minutes.”

Annemarie, who saw the store raise £160 for the lunch, hopes to hold the lunch for between five and 10 customers on Tuesday, December 20 at a local pub.

She explained the lunch has nothing to do with those who cannot afford a Christmas lunch but was entirely down to tackling loneliness.

“This isn’t for people who have no money. You can’t buy company.

“I have a relative who suffers from senile dementia.

“She married but never had kids.

“They lived in a big house and went on cruises every year but now her husband has died, she has no one. You worry about that.”

The store are no strangers to helping good causes and recently donated to the Rutherglen and Cambuslang foodbank after three workers pulled an extra nightshift to sort out loose stock.

This isn’t for those with no money... you can’t buy company. Some people have no one