Food bank efforts to fight festive hunger

Collectors say enough donations to help all

Donations from footballers, fans, politicians, boy scouts and shoppers to Rutherglen and Cambuslang Foodbank means no family will go hungry this Christmas.

The lifeline charity, who provides emergency food parcels to people experiencing financial crisis, have been supported by several community organisations in the run up to Christmas.

Cambuslang FC, The 139th Scouts, the Green Brigade and Tesco shoppers have all made sizeable donations of food and toiletries to the food bank in December.

Andy McLean, Cambuslang FC’s club president, saw players and their families donate two car-loads of supplies.

He said: “Our food bank appeal was something we wanted to do for a number of reasons.

“Firstly, to help out local families at this most demanding time of the year that brings added financial pressure. Secondly, as a community club we are fully committed to supporting as many local projects as possible.

“However, our main aim is to help our young players understand the importance of community values and open their eyes to the harsh reality for some families. We want to teach them that they can make a difference.

“I was astonished and extremely proud of the final collection of around 1,000 items.

“It feels fantastic to have brought some comfort to those local families who may find it difficult to feed themselves as Christmas approaches.”

Gerard Killen MP and councillor Martin Lennon are amongst the many locals taking part in the Reverse Advent Calendar campaign, which sees people put a donation in a box for every day in December until Christmas. The box is then handed over to a local food bank on Christmas eve.

Mr Killen, MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, said: “The Reverse Advent Calendar is a great idea. I was immediately attracted to it as a way to support our local food bank.

“Christmas is a joyful time of year for most families but, sadly, too many people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang face the misery of not being able to put food on the table for their family over the festive period.”

Mr Lennon said: “The work of local food banks embodies the goodwill and values of Christmas, so I thought that anything I could do to help promote their work over advent would be worth doing.”

Hard working Scouts have also been creative with their efforts to fundraise at Christmas, earning cash for the food bank by doing household chores and sponsored workouts.

Beavers and cubs completed jobs at home to raise at least £1 each, the Scouts did an hour of sponsored fitness circuits to raise at least £5 each, whilst explorers did two hours of sponsored heady hand ball to raise at least £10 each.

The youngsters, supported by their parents, raised more than £300 and lots of food as well as 139 selection boxes in honour of their group title.

Ian Robertson, from Rutherglen and Cambuslang Foodbank, thanked everyone for their support.

He said: “Given everyone’s generosity we are confident we will meet demand this Christmas.

“The Green Brigade section of Celtic supporters donated £500 and two young girls from Halfway, Jem and Chloe, handed in two large bags of women’s toiletries as they are raising awareness about period poverty.

“We are also aware of churches and schools who are organising their own Christmas collections for the food bank, including a number who are completing reverse Advent Calendars. These are going to be very welcome in January.”

People can still donate by handing goods into Clare Haughey MSP’s office on Rutherglen Main Street or their local church.

I was astonished and extremely proud of the final collection