Foodbank

From left: Volunteer Margaret Duncan, Barrhead Store Manager
Robert Killeen, Cllr Elaine Green, Volunteer David McLachlan
and Hugh Henry MSP

Big-hearted shoppers have been rallying round to help make sure families who are struggling to make ends meet don’t go hungry.

Customers and staff at Barrhead Tesco and the recently opened Tesco in Linwood shunned the bargain hunting frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to concentrate instead on thinking about those who can’t afford a meal.

And Renfrewshire South MSP Hugh Henry joined them, Provost Anne Hall at the Linwood store and Councillor Elaine Green at the Barrhead store in his constituency to collect his own baskets of donations to go to the Renfrewshire Foodbank which provides a vital lifeline to families.

Working alongside the charity Trussel Trust and foodbank redistribution charity FareShare, customers at  the busy store were invited to donate food as the retailer concluded its biggest ever food collection in the UK.

The response was excellent and the charity delighted although the appeal for food goes on daily.

From left: Volunteer Eileen McShane,
Provost Anne Hall, Hugh Henry MSP
and Linwood Store manager Colin Caldow

Local MSP Hugh Henry said: “The generosity shown today and throughout this appeal has been incredible. I was hugely impressed last year by the staggering amount of goods donated and this year is no different. If anything it has surpassed all expectations.

“Every donation makes a huge difference to families struggling to put food on the table. Without the generosity of the local community and volunteers as well as the support of staff at Tesco, families in Renfrewshire are going hungry in these tough times.”

Provost Anne Hall added: “It’s wonderful to see the community pull together and do what they can to make sure everyone has a meal this Christmas.

“I’d like to thank all those people who took the time to make a donation, not just today, but throughout the year.”

Councillor Elaine Green added: “Local volunteers in Barrhead and Neilston are doing a great job of promoting East Renfrewshire Foodbank. I’d like to thank local shoppers whose generosity has once again been wonderful. Thanks to them many local families can now look forward to a decent meal this Christmas.”

Customers at both Tesco stores were given a special shopping list as they entered the store and were asked to pick up an item of food such as long-life milk, cereal, tinned foods, tea and coffee before donating it at the end of their shop.

The food collected will be given to Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire Foodbank before being distributed to people in times of crisis.

Tesco Linwood store manager Colin Caldow and Tesco Barrhead store manager Robert Killeen said: “We’d like to thank our many customers who supported our Neighbourhood Food Collection. Food poverty is still a serious issue that needs to be addressed and food banks are a really important resource. We’re extremely grateful to our customers who donated at our Collection Point here in Linwood – the response has been brilliant.”

If you need to get in touch with Renfrewshire Foodbank or you are interested in volunteering, you can call 0141 889 7999.