HARD-WORKING volunteers who have delivered food to people in and around Dunbar have received an award to mark their efforts.

Volunteers at Dunbar Basics Foodbank were presented with a Rotary Recognition Award by the Rotary Club of Dunbar.

The foodbank, which has been running for more than six years, helps provide food, cleaning products and toiletries to people who find themselves in a short-term crisis.

The group has seen an increase in referrals during the coronavirus pandemic and more volunteers have joined to help with the demand.

Margaret Croft, coordinator of Dunbar Basics Foodbank, said the award was for everyone involved in the group.

She said: “It is absolutely wonderful.

“We don’t look for any reward at all; the reward we get is to help people in difficulty.

“This is a recognition of all the hard work that everybody puts in – from the coordinator to the person who picks up the bread from the shop.

“We are absolutely delighted with the award.”

The impact of Covid-19 has changed how the group, which is based in Dunbar Parish Church Hall, operates.

Previously, people would come in to see them but, with social gatherings restricted, food parcels are being delivered to people.

Margaret, a retired nurse, said they covered a wide area taking in not only Dunbar but as far as East Linton and Cockburnspath.

She told the Courier: “We are here to help people in crisis. It is short-term crisis, not long-term hardship, so we support them over the difficulty, whatever that may be.

“It could be they are homeless and moved into homeless accommodation with nothing; it could be bereavement or marital problems.

“A lot of it in the last few years has been related to Universal Credit.”

A referral system is used and professionals can point people in the direction of the foodbank, which sees members of the public and local businesses donating food to the good cause.

People referred to the foodbank can then pick food, including fresh fruit and vegetables and fresh bread from the Community Carrot and Dunbar Community Bakery, for their parcels.

Support is then offered for an average of between six and eight weeks.

Margaret, who lives in the town and is an elder at Dunbar Parish Church, said extra funding had come from Sustaining Dunbar, which allowed the addition of eggs and butcher items to the parcels.

She said demand had dropped slightly in recent weeks but feared that could soon change.

Margaret added: “Now furlough is coming to an end and people are going back to work to jobs that might not be there and they have used up their reserves, we are expecting to get a second spike in referrals.”

Andrew Brown, president of Dunbar Rotary Club, was on hand to present the award to Moyra Wright, from the foodbank team.

He said: “We walked round with them at their set-up in the church hall.

“It is fantastic and as soon as a referral comes in they just go around and pick items.

“What they are doing for the community is above and beyond.”