‘Give and Take’ idea catches on
Recipe book gets funding
Following on from the success of the North Inch and Muirton Community Council (NIMCC) Give and Take boxes, a neighbourhood cookbook is being produced.
The Give and Take box idea is also being replicated in other parts of Perth and Kinross.
Each week, NIMCC has challenged the Beardy Cook - a Facebook account that provides easy recipes for people to try at home - to produce a value meal for less than £5 using a sample of ingredients from a Give and Take box.
The Beardy Cook has risen to the challenge and now the group has received funding from Corra Foundation to produce a cookbook.
The community council has received the starter grant from this fund through PKAVS.
The idea is to produce a North Inch and Muirton neighbourhood cookbook involving the collection, production and distribution of recipes collected from local residents (Scottish, Irish, Polish, Italian, Indian, French, Filipino...) using local ingredients for value cooking.
NIMCC secretary Grace Sharkey believes the public health crisis is bringing out the best in people.
She said: “The current COVID crisis is bringing out the best in the community where many employees have been furloughed or forced on to Universal Credit. and because these payments are not instant there is an immediate need for food and other essentials and the Give and Take boxes are one way of delivering that.”
Community councillor Emma Oram told the PA that Abernethy had created its own version and groups in Methven and Scone had also shown an interest in the Give and Take boxes. And Muthill recently set one up within a phone box.
She said the North Inch and Muirton boxes were in high demand and people were even making exchanges and swapping one item for another.
Emma said: “Carers on foot are using it as a supply for people that are short.
She added: “We need a rich benefactor stocks are going quickly. There is obviously a need and particularly after the weekend.”
NIMCC is keen to thank many of the groups and organisations who have helped them.
The community council said: “We would like to especially thank Asda (Anna Jellye), Tesco Metro (Stuart Docherty) and The Christian Outreach Centre, Perth for their continued support and generous contributions of various food items, chocolates and beautiful Easter eggs.
“Thanks also go to PKAVS community engagement manager Lori Hughes and the Corra Foundation.”