Foodbank at Pitlochry thanks locals after they answer call for help.

Residents praised for stepping in to help replenish stock for those in need after online appeal

Kind-hearted Highland Perthshire residents have been thanked for their generosity after a plea for donations to a local foodbank was quickly answered. The Pitlochry facility, which usually has plenty of stock, was running low on everything from cereal to milk and tinned fish. But after a councillor highlighted the situation on social media, donations came flooding in. Iain Walker, director of the foodbank, which runs as a branch of the Perth and Kinross Trussell Trust facilities, said: “People have been very generous since the appeal and most of our stock has been replenished. “We never look a gift horse in the mouth but as a small branch, if we get too many donations we have to send them down to Perth. “We try to avoid that when possible because I know people like their donations to be used locally.” As it is a tourist destination, Mr Walker said the foodbank’s busiest time is at the end of the summer when seasonal workers are paid off. “We get a lot of inquiries and cases from the end of September into October and November,” he said. “At Christmas we are flooded with donations which last us a long time. “But it is the months leading up to then when a lot of people here struggle the most.” Highland Perthshire councillor Xander McDade issued a plea for donations on Facebook and locals, some who did not know the foodbank existed, rushed to help the facility, which is based inside the Atholl Centre. Robin Baker, duty manager at the centre, said long-life milk and tinned meat and fish tend to be the main items in short supply. “It can be difficult to predict because donations are varied, as are what people need,” he said. “After the Facebook plea we had a few quite substantial donations but donations continue to be welcomed. “We had a busy spike recently, probably due to the kids being off school, but day-to-day it is usually milk and the proteins like meat and fish we run low on.” The Trussell Trust runs foodbanks in Perth, Blairgowrie and Crieff, while the Pitlochry branch covers communities including Aberfeldy, Killiecrankie and Grandtully.

After the Facebook plea we had a few quite substantial donations but donations continue to be welcomed