Food bank pick-up point has changed

The venue for people to pick-up parcels from the Blairgowrie branch of the Perth and Kinross Foodbank has temporarily moved.

The collection point for those referred to use the crucial service has moved to Perth and Kinross Council’s offices on the Perthshire town’s Leslie Street for the time being.

The parcels are still being made up at the St Catharine’s Centre in George Street – co-ordinated by volunteers – but restrictions imposed in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak mean local authority staff are assisting with distributing the items from their base near the town centre.

Blairgowrie and Glens Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers said:“The food bank is well-established and well-supported at its usual‘home’in the St Catharine’s Centre and Anna Bowman and her volunteers do a great job.

“In order to allow social distancing to be complied with, packages are being made up for distribution via the housing office.

“I would imagine when COVID-19 restrictions are over, normal service will resume.”

Cllr Shiers continued:“What is most important is that those who need support get it.

“I would also ask people to look at the posters in Tesco as they go into the store to see what items are most needed and then donate at the collection point on the way out.”

The Perth and Kinross Foodbank and its distribution centres are part of a network set up by the Trussell Trust charity, which works in partnership with local churches and organisations to bring food banks to communities where the services are required.

A spokesperson for the council said parcels were being made up from donations at the St Catharine’s Centre from 10am until noon on Tuesdays and from 2pm-4pm on Thursdays.

She continued:“In addition, we would now encourage any individuals who are seeking any form of community food support to make use of the council’s new central number established for this purpose in the first instance so that they may also be offered advice about other appropriate support that may be available to them.

“If a referral for community food support is deemed the best course of action, details will be forwarded to the organisation concerned to make the necessary arrangements.

“The number is 0345 3011100 and will be available from 8.45am until 5pm, Monday to Friday.”

Meanwhile, support is also available from a variety of volunteer-led local groups – including the likes of the Blairgowrie and Rattray Resilience Group, part of the wider Blairgowrie and Rattray Coronavirus Co-ordination Group.

Cllr Shiers said:“Fraser Bissett is also collecting items for support packages being delivered via the community resilience group and we are working on establishing several community larders around the town to share surplus fresh items which are being donated.

“This is a great team effort and all down to the hard work of volunteers supporting the council to meet needs.”