Aiming to help out and reduce waste
A new organisation to help those struggling to get by has opened its doors in the town centre.
Waste Not, Want Not, based in Strathmore House, runs an exchange initiative whereby people can take items in, get credits and exchange them for other items.
There is also a small section of brand new items for sale which helps provide vital funds for the organisation - which is hoping to secure charity status soon.
Measures are also in place to provide items to those most in need who have nothing to exchange.
The group is run by four women, all from East Kilbride, who previously volunteered with another group which shut down.
But they decided that they wanted to continue the vital work.
Treasurer, Jan Thomson, from Greenhills, said: “I moved to East Kilbride a few years ago and as I didn’t know anyone tried to get involved in the community through volunteering.
“When the previous group folded, some of the girls approached me about getting this up and running.
“It’s early days and the shop has only been open just over a week but we have had a positive response so far.
“We are concentrating on the exchange shop for now but there are a few things in the background we are keen to develop such as peer mentoring, advocacy and a book-bug initiative.
“The council have awarded us a grant which will allow us to be a pick-up point for sanitary products and we want to link up with other organisations in the town as well.”
The group will also provide referrals to local food banks when necessary as well as groups that help folk manage their money if they find themselves in difficulty and other organistion will refer folk on to them.
Mum-of-three Jan, who also volunteers with East Kilbridebased youth project Universal Connections, added: “There is such a need out there for projects like this.
“People come to us with nothing and I think the level of poverty in East Kilbride is hidden – people would be surprised at just how many families are really struggling, relying on the third sector because they can’t get help anywhere else.
“And it’s never easy at this time of year, there is so much pressure and folk just want to give their children a nice Christmas.
“If we can help them all the better.”
Jan works alongside manager Anne Fury, secretary, Karen Ampleford and chairperson, Deborah Boyce.
They are holding a Christmas fayre on Saturday, December 7 from 10am to 2pm in the foyer of Strathmore House and Edinburgh House.
There will be lots of stalls to pick up some Christmas bargains, a tombola, raffles and also a wellbeing hub will be offering a number of therapies.