Camelon Community Hub to deliver school lunches during summer holidays

Camelon Community Hub (CCH), with help from partners, has handed out almost 10,000 meals to pupils since the onset of the coronavirus lockdown.

The number of families in Camelon and Tamfourhill who have come to rely on school lunches, as well as emergency food parcels, has left volunteers in no doubt the service remains necessary.

Those who organise the drop-offs – made fives time per week by a 12-strong team of volunteer drivers – will carry on doing so with discretion.

Linking up with businesses such as Behind The Wall and The Orchard Hotel in Falkirk has enabled CCH to distribute its emergency food parcels and this service will also continue through the summer months.

Gary Clark, who runs CCH alongside Iain Goodall, said: “Now that it’s the summer holidays, we’re trying to continue doing what we’re doing.

“There’s a need to give school lunches to people most in need because everybody’s circumstances have changed through Covid-19.

“We’re just trying to help. We’re realising our numbers have come down slightly but there’s a number of new people as well.

“We’re getting new people contacting our Facebook page who’ll tell us what their circumstances are.

“We have set days for food package deliveries. On a Tuesday we would deliver for the elderly in the area, as well as food packages that come in via social media.

“On Thursdays and Fridays we do that for adults and families. It’s so people know the structure.”

A plan to widen CCH’s services is in the pipeline as those behind the scenes see a huge opportunity to do even more good in their area.

The final details have still to be confirmed but will be released in due course.

The message which is ringing out loud and clear from CCH, however, is it is there for anyone who needs it.

Gary added: “We’re here to help. Our slogan is ‘The community hub is for everyone’.

“We couldn’t have done it without everybody who’s volunteered and who’s continuing to help.

“They’re an asset to their community. They’ve been very, very special.

“I really want to say a big thank you to the community as well because their support has been fantastic.”

CCH can be contacted via its Facebook page or by texting 07470848565.

Donations can also be made online to support the work of the hub.

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