Charity smashes its appeal target
Delightedfoodbankraises£23k
A Stirling charity has smashed its target for a fund that will ensure families across Stirling enjoy a Christmas meal.
Start-Up Stirling’s Feed a Family appeal will be used to provide turkey and all the trimmings for around 200 families this Christmas.
The charity - which runs the regular foodbank in the city - had set a target of £10,000 this year.
However, with funds still be totalled up, the collection has raised around £23,000.
The figure dwarfs the amount raised in the first festive appeal last year, and the excess funds will be used to help provide fresh food for users of the crisis service throughout 2017.
“The response has been incredible,” said Start-Up’s Joanie Littlejohn. “The money will enable us to provide all the Christmas dinners.
“Everyone who needs the foodbank over the Christmas period will receive a turkey, all the trimmings, and everything that makes a Christmas meal special.
“We will also have enough funds now to provide fresh food throughout 2017. The amount of money raised is fantastic and will be used for fruit and veg, meat and dairy products.”
The money is also being put towards a festive meal that Start-Up is hosting between Christmas and New Year for foodbank users who may be alone on Christmas Day.
It has been an emotional week for those at the foodbank, with donations of cash not only flooding in but so many food items being received that they have had to be placed in an additional industrial unit in Springkerse.
“We have got quite emotional a few times over the last week,” said Joanie.
“People are giving so generously, so many people who give what they can and there are lots of children who have become involved too.”
Examples of the generosity displayed by locals include Bannockburn Primary pupils collecting 250 kilos of food items and gifts, £1340 being raised in less than day at a bag pack at Morrisons carried out by volunteers from SEPA and St Modan’s, and Sky staff giving up their time throughout December to volunteer.
You can still donate £10 to the appeal by texting STARTUP to 70660, or go online at tiny.cc/ feedafamilyappeal or search Start Up Stirling on Facebook for more information.
For more information on the regular food items that Start-Up requires, visit www.startupstirling. org.uk