Soup-er effort has led to vital food parcel service
Tesco backs local hero Louise’s initiative
Tesco is supporting a Stirling community group, set up in response to Covid-19, in its vital work supporting people in crisis amidst the pandemic
The Heart of Braehead group was set up by Louise Speirs and uses donated food to provide families, furloughed workers and vulnerable people with fresh produce and meals via a 24/7 community larder, ready meal services and weekly collection points.
Louise, whose own business John Ferguson Mini Bus Hire has had to temporarily close due to the pandemic, decided to use her time wisely by helping others in need making soups for her elderly neighbours. This grew into a communitywide effort in Braehead that now provides support for around 300 people a week.
The food, donated weekly via FareShare and the Tesco Community Food Connection, is shared through food parcels created for more than 15 families and also distributed at the group’s food project three times a week at the North Parish Church.
Louise says: “During this challenging time, our community has faced its fair share of difficulties however there’s no need for anyone to go hungry. When I initially set up the Heart of Braehead group, I didn’t have any idea that it would grow into the amazing community effort it is today and we’ve seen an amazing response from all our friends and neighbours.
“I’d like to thank all of the local groups and charities, including Fareshare and Tesco, for their help as we continue to feed more families, who without support may struggle to prepare quality meals at the moment. We’ve even managed to inspire another local group and helped them establish their own weekly food bank so to see even more people playing their part in such an important cause is heart-warming.”
Louise has also been nominated at the WeDO Scotland Covid-19 Scottish SME Business Awards for the Best Local Hero category because of her work with Heart of Braehead.
Tesco is donating an additional £15m of food UK-wide to support its partner charities the Trussell Trust and FareShare to respond to the extra demands to provide emergency food supplies caused by the pandemic.
The extra deliveries are on top of the £3million surplus food that Tesco already distributes to some 7,000 charities and community groups across the UK each month due to its ongoing partnership with FareShare.
Recent figures released by the Trussell Trust show that demand at food banks has increased by more than 80 per cent amidst the pandemic.
“In every part of the UK there are charities and community groups doing amazing work to feed people during the pandemic, and we are glad that we have been able to support them in helping so many vulnerable people,” said Tesco’s Head of Community, Claire De Silva.