Free meals provider needs help to expand
A service that provides free meals is desperately looking for drivers as they look to expand into Wishaw, Newmains and Motherwell.
Since late 2020, “Food For Scotland” has helped deliver 18,000 meals to people across the Clydesdale area but now hopes to expand its service.
Started by Ramunas Bucinskas as a way of making sure the local community was cared for, “Food For Scotland” delivers hot meals daily to those who need them.
Ramunas said that lockdown and covid have left some people out of pocket and that providing a helping hand was the least he could do.
He told the Wishaw Press: “I started the project in late 2020 after seeing the effects of lockdown and self-isolation which meant people were sometimes needing a helping hand.
“This was everything from a loss of income, unable to get groceries and even elderly people being scared to leave their house.
“So I got a team of volunteers together and we began delivering hot meals to people who were in need of them.
“I set up a community kitchen in Lesmahagow where all the meals are made and we currently deliver in the areas of Lesmahagow, Kirkmuirhill, Blackwood, Coalburn, Larkhall, Lanark, Carluke, Rigside, Douglas and Douglas Water.
“But I noticed a lot of people from elsewhere were messaging me from Wishaw, Newmains and Motherwell so I thought it was best to expand.”
Before Ramunas expands though he is in desperate need of volunteer drivers to deliver the meals across the towns.
He said: “We really need drivers who are from these areas to come forward and help us out – we can’t launch the service until we have them.
“Currently we are doing our service twice a week and the shift for drivers is approximately two hours.
“We will provide a link using a journey planner service for your phone that will guide you using Google Maps or your sat nav. The stop number can vary from 10 deliveries to around 15.
“All the volunteer drivers should wear masks during their deliveries as we are dealing with elderly and vulnerable people.”
To volunteer, or find out more, visit the group’s page on Facebook.