Now’s your chance to give foodbank a hand
READERS of the Herald are being urged to give what they can to support people in need by backing our North Ayrshire Foodbank appeal this week.
Every copy of this edition of the Herald sold across the area has a free paper bag inside.
We want readers to take that bag to their local shop and fill it, or fill as much of it as you can afford, with items suitable for the food bank.
You can then hand your bag and its contents in to the Herald’s office in Princes Street in Ardrossan, which is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, or take them straight to the food bank’s base at the Church of the Nazarene in the town’s Glasgow Street.
Providing food to thousands of people in the area, North Ayrshire Foodbank are in need of donations after seeing more and more people come to them for help.
With the cost-of-living crisis having long-term effects for many people, organiser Craig Crossthwaite thanked the donors who continue contributing to the vital service – and appealed to people to keep on giving what they can.
Craig is hoping that readers of the Herald will give the food bank an extra helping hand through our campaign – and he says the support of the Herald’s readers can’t come soon enough.
“Demand has gone up,” he said. “There’s no doubt about it. The cost-of-living crisis and energy crisis is still affecting people.
“While the energy crisis is easing, at its height people got into a lot of debt, which is
ongoing.
“Every tin donated is a lifeline to somebody asking for assistance. Each and every donation is crucial, and a blessing to somebody.
“We still manage through the kindness and generosity of our donors each week.
“But we’re going down in donations, and the Christmas donations are coming to an end.”
North Ayrshire Foodbank is located at the Church of the Nazarene in Glasgow Street and is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am until 2pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am until 2pm, and Fridays from 10am to 2pm and then again from 6pm to 8pm.
Contact 01294 601312 or email info@northayrshire. foodbank.org.uk.
When you call or email, a food bank team member will talk you through your situation and put you in touch with a relevant local agency who can help.
They’ll discuss your situation with you and supply you with a voucher which you can then take to the food bank
and exchange for a food parcel containing three days of nutritionally balanced, nonperishable food.
The campaign is being backed by sponsorship from Glasgow-based company Colourfence, run by Ian McConnachie, who has family links with the area.
Ian said: “My partner’s family come from the Three Towns, so I’ve got a connection to the area.
“The Three Towns has been good to my business so I thought it would be good to give something back.
“The food bank is a good cause and I think it’s important to try and help out.”
Craig Borland, deputy group editor of Newsquest’s West Scotland weekly titles, which includes the Herald, said: “We know times are tight, but if you’re able to donate whatever items you can afford to our appeal, I know there will be a family somewhere who are incredibly grateful.”
More information about the North Ayrshire Foodbank is available at www.northayrshire.foodbank.org.uk.