GENEROUS Courier readers have been answering the call to help those in food poverty.
Inside last week’s paper was a special bag for readers to fill with goods as we launched our foodbank appeal to ensure that the most vulnerable families received help.
Just one week in, scores of full bags have been dropped off at our partner initiatives.
And today we urge you, if you still have a Courier-branded foodbank bag at home, to fill it up and drop it off!
The drop-off points are: East Lothian Foodbank in Tranent; Dunbar FoodShare; East Lothian Roots and Fruits in Elphinstone; Lammermuir Larder in Haddington; North Berwick Kindness Co-operative; and the Pennypit Trust, Prestonpans.
Filled donation bags can also be dropped off at the premises of two of our sponsors – Belmont Group, in Wallyford; and Forth Blinds, Prestonpans – during business opening hours.
READ MORE: East Lothian Courier Foodbank Appeal – Time to fill your donation bags
Elaine Morrison, manager of East Lothian Foodbank, described the donations through the appeal – sponsored by AC’s Taxis, Minibuses & Coaches; Belmont Group; EDF; and Forth Blinds – as “brilliant”.
So far, the foodbank has received 22 bags full of donations, an equivalent of more than 200 meals for people.
Ms Morrison said: “The appeal has been brilliant so far.
“We’ve got 22 bags in total which have all been totally full.
“That’s a massive amount of food which will go a long way. We rely heavily on donations. When we don’t have enough food, we have to buy it and that limits what we can buy or provide.
“Donations like this are massive and we are very grateful to everyone who has donated so far.
“We will hopefully see a few more donations in the coming days.
“Thank you to everyone who has donated.”
Pat Lemmon, from the Lammermuir Larder, told the Courier the response to the initiative had been “very good”.
The good cause, based on Mitchell’s Close, Haddington, was set up in 2021. It aims to offer support to those in the Haddington area struggling to feed themselves or their families.
Mrs Lemmon said: “We saw a big increase in the number of donations.
“We have actually had some of the Courier bags inside carrier bags because people were overloading the paper bags!
“We are very, very grateful to the Courier and have seen a marked increase.
“It has been highly successful.”
Margaret Croft, of Dunbar FoodShare, was similarly pleased with the response.
She said: “The guys collected donations from Asda yesterday and we have got about half a dozen [of the Courier bags so far]. It has been good.”
More donations are to be collected from other drop-off points in the town, she said.
Mrs Croft was hopeful people would continue to hand in filled bags.
She said: “The bags only went out last week. People are probably still hanging onto theirs and next time they are in the shop, hopefully, they fill them then.”
A spokesperson for the Pennypit Trust added: “The donations have been coming in, which is great.
“I think we’ve had about four or five bags so far and the food is going straight back out due to demand.
“We are being kept busy so any donations of non-perishable goods are always appreciated. Hopefully we get some more donations in the coming days.”
East Lothian Roots and Fruits (ELRF) received its first two donations on Tuesday. ELRF, on Elphinstone’s Main Street, aims to make fruit and vegetables affordable and accessible; it offers a range of initiatives, including fruit and veg deliveries and cooking workshops.
Pamela McKinlay, ELRF project manager, said: “Thanks to our generous supporters through the Courier appeal and East Lothian Fareshare hub, we are able to deliver boxes of food to families in need. Robyn, our volunteer, has been helping to pack the boxes.”
It is not too late to make a donation and offer a little bit of help to those who need it most.
East Lothian Foodbank, on Tranent’s Civic Square, is open 10am-2pm, Monday to Friday, for drop-offs.
Items can be dropped off at East Lothian Roots and Fruits by visiting the charity between 8am and 1pm Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8am and 2pm Wednesday and Thursday, and 8am and noon Saturday and Sunday.
The Pennypit Trust will accept donations to its pantry on North Grange Avenue, Prestonpans, 11am to 1pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Any non-perishable foods are sought by the pantry.
Items can be dropped off at Dunbar FoodShare by visiting the town’s Asda, the Co-op stores and BeGreen on High Street, as well as Dunbar Library, during opening hours.
Donations for the Lammermuir Larder can be made to the Co-op store on Hopetoun Drive, as well as Kevin Watt Butchers, and Aldi, Home Bargains and The Food Warehouse at Haddington Retail Park during the businesses’ opening hours.
Items can be handed into North Berwick Community Centre 9am-6pm in aid of North Berwick Kindness Co-operative.
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