Cheerful Frances will be so hard to replace
Foodbank manager calling it a day after 18 months
Rutherglen and Cambuslang Foodbank manager, Frances Grant is stepping down from her post next month.
Frances joined the foodbank around 18 months ago and has “absolutely loved” her role within the group and local community.
Speaking to the Reformer, Frances was effusive in her praise and said: “I am so grateful for my time at the foodbank.
“From the second I started I was made to feel so welcome and I really am in awe of the foodbank volunteers who do such a fantastic job.
“It has absolutely been my pleasure to work with such a dedicated, generous hardworking group of people.
“Unfortunately circumstances have changed for myself and I have had to review priorities and I have had to resign.
“I hope that in my time I have had a positive impact.
“I just really want to convey my thanks to everyone, particularly all the volunteers who make the foodbank the success it really is in helping the local community. I wish everyone all the best.”
Frances’s departure has been met with sadness from the team, who wished her all the best going forward.
Ian Robertson, foodbank committee member, said: “It is with great sadness that the Foodbank is having to say good luck and goodbye to its current manager, who is moving on to pastures new.
“Frances has been there for the past year- and- a- half and has been an invaluable asset to the foodbank, with her cheerful approach and non-stop drive to improve access for clients and support to volunteers.”
“She’ll be hard to replace – but we need to try” said Jamie Gracie, foodbank committee chairman.
The hunt is on to find a new manager and recruitment packs will soon be available, with a application submission date of September 11.
Following a layoff imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the foodbank is gearing up for a restart in mid-September.
When the pandemic hit and lockdown came into force, the foodbank closed down as more than 50 per cent of its distribution point volunteers and all of its drivers were over 70, and or had underlying health issues which precluded them from working. To keep things moving, the Camglen Covid Group came into being, absorbed the foodbank stock, and got food out to the needy.
Now discussions are underway between the two organisations to ensure a seamless transfer back to the foodbank from midSeptember, with new procedures in place to protect both clients and volunteers.