Foodbank to expand
Festive period a success
Services provided by the Stirling foodbank are set to be extended this year.
Start-Up Stirling has had a successful festive period, with more than £25,000 being raised in their Feed a Family Appeal.
The money was utilised to pay for Christmas meal packs for more than 250 people who need the crisis foodbank, and a festive dinner for those who were alone this Christmas was also hosted.
The remaining funds raised will help pay for fresh fruit and vegetables for service users over the next 12 months, and to extend a new food nutrition programme.
Each week Start-Up will include a different recipe for their users, with tailored food packs distributed, volunteers helping families to make the meals and tips on how to store it properly.
A new project to help those who regularly return to the foodbank - around 50 per cent of the users - is also being launched this month.
Start-Up recently received funding from the Scottish Government’s Fair Food Transformation Fund for the project, which aims to address the reasons why people need support.
“We are aiming to help them address the reasons for this long term poverty, and helping them access the support they need to address their issues,” said Start-Up’s Joanie Littlejohn.
“Some people that we work with just need a bit of short term help to get back on their feet. Maybe they have had an unexpected bill, are waiting on a paycheck or have housing issues.
“With others, we are realising that they are in need of more regular support. We want to be able to help them so that they can start to move on from their issues.”
Issues that StartUp users have to deal with include long term money problems, fuel poverty, health issues and addiction.
More than 10 tonnes of food items were donated to Start-Up in the run-up to Christmas, however there are items that are always required such as toiletries, household goods and cleaning products.
For more information on Start-Up Stirling and items required by the foodbank, visit www.startupstirling. org.uk