Bonnybridge food bank providing lockdown delivery help for vulnerable and needy

ROOTS Helping Hands Food Share volunteers have been coming to the aid of residents of Bonnybridge, Banknock, Camelon and Denny since the group first formed 18 months ago, initially to allow parents of children with additional support needs to meet and help one another.

Before long, ROOTS grew into a food bank and those involved behind the scenes have continued giving support to others while coronavirus blights daily life.

The team of parents have been given permission to use Bonnybridge Community Centre as a base during the Covid-19 pandemic to gather and deliver food parcels to the vulnerable.

Since lockdown measures were imposed, ROOTS members have rallied together to organise weekly drop-offs to those in the at-risk categories, as well as anybody struggling for income.

Jennifer Cochrane, founder and secretary of ROOTS, said: “Before, we were doing a food larder and we were getting stuff from Greggs, Tesco and Aldi.

“That had to change because of coronavirus so now we do weekly parcels helping everybody. We deliver the parcels and there’s no contact.

“We get help from the council through FareShare and people in the community have donated about £4500.

“The donations are fantastic, they just keep coming in. We can’t keep up with them!

“People are making things like home-made jam and the messages we get are phenomenal.

“We work closely with supermarkets and can purchase things like tinned meats to go in the parcels.

“People do need the help. Pride gets in the way and people are losing their jobs.

“We’re here for anyone who needs it and it can be an ongoing thing because a lot of people are in isolation or are just not able to get out.”

Jennifer praised everyone who has played their part in ensuring goods get to the needy amid the coronavirus crisis.

And, with ambitions to increase the number of deliveries, the volunteers hope to reach more people in the coming weeks.

Jennifer added: “All the volunteers are from our own area and we’ve got about ten.

“We’re like a wee family — they’re willing to go into the thick of it.

“Everybody wants to help which is fantastic. It’s bringing the community back and even humanity, seeing as we’re all in it together.

“A massive thank you to everybody. Without their donations, we wouldn’t be able to help these people who can’t help themselves.”

Supported by CVS Falkirk and Falkirk Council, ROOTS also works with other food banks such as Denny Baptist Church, Denny Community Group, Camelon Hub and the Archibald Russell Centre.

In some cases, individuals are referred to ROOTS by the local authority after contacting its helpline on 0808 100 3161.

The group’s volunteers can also be contacted directly via Jennifer on 07808 054211 or its Facebook page.

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