Every little helps
Veterans forced to rely on food handouts from supermarket scheme
STRUGGLING veterans have been forced to rely on free food handouts from a supermarket charity scheme.
A Tesco near Glasgow has been dishing out trolleys of grub to help former service personnel in need.
It is being done under the chain’s Community Food Connection scheme, which gives out surplus food to charity and community groups.
Taxi driver David Gibson, of Fares4Free, who give free trips to veterans, has been helping by ferrying the food to the ex-servicemen.
David, 45, from Glasgow, said: “I have collected trolleys of food for veterans from Tesco Cumbernauld.
“They have been great, helping veterans who, through no fault of their own, have been facing very difficult circumstances.
“In the most recent run, there was enough left over to pass to veterans at Scottish Veterans Residences in Glasgow.
“I never thought we’d need the wheelchair winch to pull a trolley up the ramp.”
David added: “It’s sad that veterans need to rely on free food but it’s a service that is now in great demand.”
Tony McElroy, Tesco’s head of communications in Scotland, said: “Community Food Connection provides people in need with meals from food that would otherwise go to waste as surplus from our stores. “This food is reaching hundreds of charities across the UK. It is fantastic to hear that local veterans are benefiting from this project.” Last week, the Record told how an army of former soldiers, sailors and airmen were using foodbanks. Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson rolled out the Tories’ stock response when challenged, insisting there are “complex reasons” why people struggle to scrape together cash to eat. Iraq veteran Cammy MacLeod, who runs PTSD charity Who Dares Cares, said: “The fact our veterans are being forced to use foodbanks is a horrifying indictment of modern Britain. “There is no doubt more older veterans and younger service leavers are falling through the net.”