Getting food to the needy right here and now
Boghall Drop-In Centre is going the extra mile
A community charity is leading the fight in West Lothian against the isolation caused by coronavirus.
Boghall Drop-In Centre has joined the relief effort and has been busy trying to alleviate the suffering in the area by providing the elderly and those who are isolated with hot meals and care packages.
The 16-year-old community hub has become a vital resource for Boghall residents but in recent days and weeks all their efforts have switched to battling against the coronavirus outbreak.
Volunteer, Victoria Dunnett, explained: “Our main focus is to help anyone in isolation right now. Not just the elderly but anyone who is indoors and without a wage, or without someone to come see them and deliver essentials.
“People are anxious and devastated, those with zero- hour or part- time contracts, and no money coming in because they have not worked, plus the shops are all sold out as well. The Scottish Government say they are going to continue on providing children with free meals but what about their parents? That is our concern.”
The drop-in centre is making up care packages that include items like tinned meats, mug snacks, porridge oats, UHT milk, biscuits and toiletries.
For families with children they also have items like baby food and milk, teething gel and baby wipes.
The volunteers are currently getting out and delivering meals and care packages in their own cars but they are also hoping to be given a van temporarily by Arnold Clark to deliver to those in isolation. The group has been very grateful for all the offers of help from within the community, but hopes to receive a share from the coronavirus aid packages that have recently been announced.
Victoria continued: “We are getting by alright for the moment but because of the volumes of food involved then if we are to sustain this for a long period of time, as it looks like will be the case, then we will struggle eventually.
“We got a reduced budget from West Lothian Council, like everyone else, and no lottery money this year but we have been budgeting wisely so there is a wee surplus for the moment. It is about how long we can keep it going. There is this big funding pot that has been announced but we don’t know how they are going to distribute it so we will just have to wait and see.
“We have been seeing more and more people come into us struggling in the last 18 months so we know how many needy people there are out there. We are a good wee team here and you just get used to it. It has been a hard slog but folk need you so you have to be there for them.”
The group is launching a new scheme where it will be giving out mobile phones to the elderly in order to communicate and interact with them easier whilst the pandemic is ongoing.
But first they need people to loan any old phones they have lying around.
Volunteers ask that anyone who has a phone should drop it into the centre in an envelope with their name attached and it will be returned in due course.
Locals will be accommodated and given access to the premises but it will be carefully managed and risk assessed.
However, Victoria says the group won’t turn anyone away.
She added: “Our biggest concern is that people continue to make contact with us. I’d urge anyone to please reach out to us if they can.
“If there is also anyone out there who feels like they have bought too much then they can drop that off to us to distribute to the needy.
“Even restaurants that are closing down – we have facilities here to take in and store any food that might be going to waste. Anyone looking to help should get in touch.”
Victoria has confirmed that services will continue even though the country is now in lockdown.
The new guidelines mean the group had to apply for a permit to the council and government to continue operating, say they will continue with their voluntary effort.
It has been a hard slog but folk need you so you have to be there for them