Withkids and About Youth would like to thank Caroline Bruce, Izzie Walker, Gina Hendry, Mechelle Walker, Carrie Duff, Leah Robertson and Michelle Robson for all the work they have done and continue to do each Friday morning distributing the Fair share Surplus food to the Calder Community.
These local women have touched many with their banter, friendliness and welcome. They are not only active in challenging food poverty in the Calders., but are active recyclist’s by having a point at the flat each week where local people can drop off things they no longer use and which is hopefully another’s treasure.
Prior to COVID the Calders Volunteers received Surplus Food from Fairshare funded by Withkids (Friday Mornings at the Calders Community flat 10.30-12noon). They ran lunch clubs, art groups for the local children and distributed surplus food to the community. They changed direction as lockdown hit and became a valuable community resource linking with many other agencies to provide food to the local community every day of the week. They made meals, distributed meals and food from other agencies, Social bite, Gate8 , Maison Blu, Rev Tom from St. Nicholas Church, Big Blue Van, etc.
They sign posted local people to agencies for support and went out of their way to check up on local people who they were concerned about and made contact on their behalf with support services. They provided a smile, laughter, and a hello to everyone who crossed their paths, being a highlight in folks day, a point of contact through the bleakness of COVID. Recently Four Square are providing a service for anyone with benefit queries, please come along for support.
When asking members of the community about the great work done by the Volunteer team they said:
They had provided somewhere in lock down for local people to communicate, have a laugh, get support with heating and food. I even got treats for my wee boy. Great nice people, I don’t know what I would have done without it.
Good in terms of supporting everyone with free food
During lockdown a God send for me and my friends. Friendly faces, helpful and have really supported me when I was feeling down. Linked me in for support for heating
So good for our mental health their happy faces and friendly chat, They left stuff for us at the door when we were not well, Brilliant Lassises, so friendly, helpful.
As part of Volunteer week the Community and all organisations would like to say thank you for the massive kindness and generosity you have shown throughout your dedication to volunteering within your community.
If you would like to volunteer the group are open to new people joining and you can talk about this with them at the flat on Friday mornings from 10.30-12noon.
To continue this work we are looking for donations of nonperishable’s tinned, soup , beans, meals, rice, pasta, etc.
