The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Army of snow angels go above and beyond
Community spirit is alive and well as locals rally round to help those in need as weather closes in
Not all superheroes wear capes.
While the bitterly cold conditions and significant snowfall continued to cause problems across the kingdom, Fifers across the region knuckled down and demonstrated amazing community spirit to help people stuck in snow drifts.
Hundreds of passers-by came to the aid of motorists who were stranded, while a number of organisations throughout Fife opened their doors to provide hot food and drink.
One of those was the Linton Lane Centre in Kirkcaldy which, with the help of Kirkcaldy Foodbank, offered locals food parcels, tea and a bacon roll, and also a safe warm space to the vulnerable.
Councillor Judy Hamilton said: “We have volunteers who’ve walked in to provide a service, somebody got bread very early on from Asda, some 4x4 drivers are taking food parcels to folk who can’t manage in.
“It is really times like this that people pull together – and the community spirit is fantastic.
“It’s been very busy and very welcome.”
With conditions still treacherous, lifeboat volunteers with the RNLI at Anstruther and Kinghorn again offered
If anyone has an elderly friend or relative they are worried about and they live close enough to walk, I’d be happy to pop in on them
their services for several hours yesterday collecting and delivering prescriptions to those unable to make it out.
Police officers who could not attend the station were lending a hand where it was needed, while NHS Fife also said it had been “inundated” with offers from people with 4x4 vehicles willing to help staff get to work.
Even those who could not get into hospital were undeterred from carrying out their duty.
Fiona Johnston, of Dunino in north east Fife, took to social media to say: “I’m a nurse unable to get to work because of the snow and I’m in Dunino.
“If anyone has an elderly friend or relative they are worried about and they live close enough to walk, I’d be happy to pop in on them. Just drop me a note!”
A number of doctors, nurses and other staff have been staying overnight either at their place of work or in other nearby accommodation to keep services and facilities running.
There were no meals on wheels in St Monans but locals cooked up batches of food and took it to the needy on foot.
Marta Droszkowska Raynor, bar manager at the Keys pub in St Andrews, offered free refreshments to emergency services.