The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Soup project about more than dinner
Acommunity project in Brechin delivering soup and baked potatoes has gone from strength to strength.
In partnership with Stirfresh and Upper Dysart’s Community Larder project, bags of vegetables and potatoes are delivered to the Brechin Soup project at St Andrew’s Church hall every week.
There they are combined with other products from the Co-op and batches of soup are made ready to be delivered to more than 300 households.
Kathy Calderwood, community pioneer at the Co-op, who helped the project get off the ground, said: “We have a team of volunteers who are actually cooks who get a delivery of these soup packs to the church hall at St Andrew’s where they do a production of soup which is all put into cups, frozen.”
She continued: “It has been up and running for about seven weeks. We started off with about 60 to 70 and now it is over 300.”
While the soup will be welcomed, the real ethos behind the project is getting people connecting again.
“There are a lot of people, not all families, maybe middle-aged upwards, couples and individuals, who are benefiting from it Co-op,” Kathy added.
Liz Howson of St Andrew’s Church said the initiative has been going from strength to strength.
“Our vestry agreed the church hall could be used for production – it has been sitting empty during the last year – and it’s been all go from there,” she added.
“Brechin is an area of high deprivation and food insecurity has become heightened during the pandemic.”
Teresa Spark, charity co-ordinator for the Upper Dysart Larder, said the Brechin initiative was a trailblazer and is delighted to see organisations in the town come together to support others.
“The Brechin
Soup project was the first soup initiative to get started within Angus, and has been hugely successful,” she continued.
“It really has been wonderful to see various organisations in Brechin unite to work together to help those most in need within their local community.
“Our aim, with each project, is to help feed as many people as we can, especially children, and those who are in need, individuals or families, those who are maybe struggling financially, with mental health, social isolation etc,” she said.
A spokesman for Angus Council said: “This
continued partnership has a focus on breaking down barriers to social isolation with the renewal of social connection in the community.
“We were in a position to offer this equipment and very pleased to make a valued contribution in working with our community groups.”