Falkirk Foodbank says thanks to volunteers

Two back room staff who have been furloughed from Falkirk Football Club have been making deliveries for the food bank every single working day since the crisis started.

And teachers from Stenhousemuir Primary have even managed to keep in touch with pupils and parents while also dealing with the huge volume of referrals to the food bank.

The team have also been boosted by welcome help from staff from Scottish Gas who are helping with deliveries.

For manager Jim Couper, the new volunteers have been a real blessing as the food bank faced not only a doubling in the number of referrals but also a very sudden shortage of its regular volunteers.

He said: “When the virus struck at first, people’s anxiety levels were really high and we were inundated.

“People started to lose their job and places were shutting so it was really full on.

“Right at the start, we were the only ones that people could turn to.”

But while demand rocketed, many of the volunteers who faithfully help out at the food bank throughout the year found they were unable to do so either because of their age or health conditions affecting them or family members.

“We lost about half of our volunteers within the space of a week or two,” said Jim.

Thankfully, Falkirk Football Club has a long association with the food bank.

As the crisis unfolded, staff who were taking along donations were asked if they could help out.

Connor Park, who looks after the club’s media and communications, and kit man Bob Lochhead, were both about to be furloughed and were more than happy to help.

Connor said: “We’re used to working all the time so it kept us busy – but also we knew of the work they were doing and how important it was and that’s been amplified since we’ve been in helping.

“It’s been great – everybody at the food bank has been so welcoming.

“You see just how generous people are with their time and with donations and how grateful people are when you go out.

“To be able to make that wee difference has been great. It’s been very rewarding for us – it’s been a privilege really.”

Also helping out with the phone calls and paperwork that are a necessary part of the job are a trio of primary teachers.

Jenny Lenathen, a teacher at Stenhousemuir Primary School, stepped in when she realised her gran, Irene Scott – who volunteers one day a week – was in the at-risk group.

“I thought about my gran, and how I didn’t want her going in because she is 70 and she is vulnerable, so I said I would go in for her,” explained Jenny.

“It started off I would just do her shift but when I went in everything started happening really quickly.

“There are so many amazing volunteers there who are elderly and a few had to stay at home so I started to go in more often.

“When you go in you see what Jim and all the volunteers are doing, you want to try and give something back and help in anyway you can.”

She recruited her P2 colleague Katie Brown to help deal with the huge volume of phone calls, while another Stenhousemuir teacher, Sarah Brynes, also helps out.

The teachers have managed to keep an eye on any messages from parents and even plan online learning together during food bank shifts.

Having the younger helpers allowed the older volunteers to step back without worrying about what’s happening at the Tamfourhill depot in their absence.

After the initial surge, the pace is now less frantic.

But they are still busy and believe it won’t get better any time soon as more job losses begin to be felt.

Jim has nothing but praise for all the volunteers – of all ages – who have kept the food bank ready to help those who are most in need.

He said: “They’ve all stepped up to the plate. They have really kept morale up for everyone.

“What’s important is that we’ve been able to help people while keeping everyone safe.”