Food bank ready for festive surge

AVITAL food bank has told of how it is preparing for a surge in customers over the festive season as families struggle to make ends meet.

Katharina Nimmo, manager of the Rutherglen and Cambuslang Foodbank, which opened its first distribution centre in December 2013, said: “We’re always busier at Christmas.

“On one hand, we get a real influx of donations at this time of year and open our warehouse for longer so that we can deal with the extra.

“But also in December, especially in the week before Christmas Day, we find there’s a big uptake in people using our services.

“For example, we once had a dad come in after he had spent all his money on presents for his kids.

“People don’t want their children to miss out so they go without food. There are so many extra expenses at this time of year.”

The team has partnered with the Glasgow Times as part of our Bank on Us campaign – which is encouraging readers to donate to their local food bank this Christmas.

While a busy month lies ahead, it’s already been a tough year for the charity which has seen firsthand the effects that the cost- ofliving crisis is having on its local community.

Katharina said: “We have definitely seen an increase in people coming in. At the same time donations have gone down because people are struggling to look after themselves. Between the months of July and September last year, we had 753 people come to the food bank. In the same time period this year, we had 878.

“We’ve had to buy in extra provisions to meet the demand.”

The Rutherglen and Cambuslang Foodbank’s work involves providing people who are referred to them with bags of nutritionally balanced items that will feed a household for three days devised with the help of NHS dieticians.

As temperatures drop in the city, the team also strive to purchase blankets, duvets and flasks for a growing number of people who are struggling to cope with soaring energy bills.

Katharina explained: “We try to offer the full package and speak to people when they come in to find out what needs they have mentally and physically. As well as donations of food, we receive money which we will use to top up our bags, but also we’ve been able to provide people with sim cards that have six months of unlimited calls and texts.

“We have conversations with people and make sure to refer them to other agencies that they might need. It’s not just about coming in, collecting food, and going back out.”

The Rutherglen and Cambuslang Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust’s Food Bank Network and is staffed entirely by volunteers.

Tomorrow, paper bags will be inserted into every copy of the Glasgow Times as part of the Bank on Us campaign. Readers who are able to donate are being asked to fill the bags and hand them into one of our partner food banks.

You can drop off donations at the food bank’s warehouse at Unit 37, Rutherglen Exchange, Main Street, Rutherglen, G73 2LS.

It is open on Mondays 10am- 12pm for bigger amounts, and Mondays and Thursdays between 12pm and 2.45pm for smaller amounts.

It will also be open on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout December from 10am to 12pm.

For more information and for the full list of participating food banks, go to glasgowtimes. co. uk/ bankonus.

Or to donate to our toy drive, which aims to ensure every child across the city wakes up with a present on Christmas morning, go to gofundme. com/ f/ glasgow- timestoyappeal- 2022.