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Friday, March 29, 2024

Highland MSP’s Show Support for Highland Foodbank Amid Covid-19 Crisis

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Pictured left to right: Kate Forbes MSP, Finlay Mackenzie (Blythswood Care’s Head of Projects), Maree Todd MSP.

Maree Todd MSP & Kate Forbes MSP encourage online donations to the Highland food bank amid Covid-19 crisis.

The two Highland MSPs who share a constituency office in Dingwall have highlighted how lockdown restrictions have affected physical donations to local food banks across the Highlands.

Highlands & Islands MSP Maree Todd said:

“Due to the current climate, many drop-off points for food bank donations, including our constituency office, have now closed.

“With limited availability of certain items and people making fewer trips to the supermarket, food banks have seen a decline in food donations.

“There are still ways to lend a helping hand though, and this can be done by making an online donation to the Highland Food Bank.

“No matter how big or small, this money will make a difference to the lives of those young and old who are experiencing food insecurity.

“I would like to send a huge thank you to all the volunteers who continue to devote their time to ensure the Highland Food Bank can continue supporting the most vulnerable.”

Commenting, Kate Forbes MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said:

“I am immensely grateful to the Highland Food Bank for their continued efforts to ensure Highlanders who are in the greatest need still have access to food and basic essentials.

“Due to the lockdown restrictions, understandably a lot of donation points are currently closed – including our constituency office – but the need is still there, if not greater.

“It never ceases to amaze me how many people pop into our office each day to drop things off for the food bank collection point, so if folk feel able to donate online that would be great and much appreciated.”

In response to the pandemic, the Scottish Government has made £70 million available through the Food Fund.

The fund will allow more community food projects to receive funding to provide emergency free meals to those most in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Food Fund comprises £30 million for food deliveries for those in the ‘shielded groups’, a further £30 million has been allocated to local authorities for free school meals and food support for older people, those with long-term health conditions and pregnant women.

The remaining £10 million is for critical third sector and community response organisations, which includes funding so far of £500,000 each for Social Bite, FareShare and Cash for Kids.

Online donations to the Highland Food Bank can be made here.

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