Testimonies
‘Garry’
Garry, his wife and two kids came to the new Food Bank Centre in Invergordon shortly after it opened in August 2009. Because of ill-health, Garry was no longer able to do the job he'd had previously and the family were short of money. We gave them an emergency three-day supply of food, and over a cup of coffee Garry told us that he was just on his way to an interview for a part-time job.
‘Mandy’
Mandy, in her forties, had just lost her husband, and she and her teenage son were facing financial pressures. The cost of the funeral was covered, but they were having difficulty meeting the additional costs associated with their bereavement - the extra journeys, the cost of feeding family members who came to Inverness for the funeral. It was a great comfort to Mandy and her son in their grief to know that for the next few days they didn't need to worry about food.
The Food Bank Team saw Mandy from time to time over the next few months, but they didn't find out if Garry got that job. And in a sense they don't need to know. What's important is that the Food Bank is there for people when they need help, a link in the chain providing support and human warmth at a difficult time.
‘Simon’
Simon had just been given his first flat after living in homeless accommodation. Receiving help from us meant that he could concentrate on getting the basic necessities together so that he could move in to his flat. He was really excited about getting his own place to live, and being giving the food meant he’d one less thing to worry about at this crucial turning point in his life.
'Anthony and Mark'
Anthony and Mark came to the Inverness Food Bank Centre on 6th January. They stayed chatting to the volunteers and drinking cups of tea for almost two hours, as they found the Centre was much warmer than their accommodation!
They were struggling financially, and had no money for food: the Food Bank provided them with an emergency three-day supply.
These are real people with real problems – just a few of the 3623 people the Highland Food Bank was able to help in 2009. The work of Food Bank is entirely dependent on the generosity of people in the Highlands who donate food and money. In the current financial climate we anticipate the demand for our service rising in the coming months. We can only meet the needs of an ever increasing number of people who would otherwise struggle to eat if our resources increase in proportion to the need. Please consider whether you can help us make a difference to the lives of people in need in your own community. Financial donations to the work of Food Bank can be made payable to Blythswood Care.
Donations of food can either be delivered to Blythswood’s base at Deephaven, Evanton, or left at any of Blythswood Care’s shops. It’s possible for larger donations of food to be collected – please contact the Depot to arrange for this. All donations of food are acknowledged, but this can only happen if we know where the food has come from, so please label bags and boxes of food with your name and address, or in the case of churches and organisations, the name and address of the contact person.
