Did you know that our Foodbank Collection Point at the West Halls has been running every Tuesday since the start of the first national lockdown in April 2020? Since then, donations have totalled more than 47 tons – the equivalent of a staggering 105,000 meals (figures based on information from Renfrewshire Foodbank).

We currently have a team of 18 volunteers who take it in turns to run the Collection Point and help sort the items into trays ready for Thursday, when they are picked up by folk from Renfrewshire Foodbank.

Houston Litter Crew teamed up with us in September 2021, collecting cans and plastic bottles from the pubs, the Bowling Club and the Carrick Centre Café, as well as on their weekly litter picking rounds of the village. They used recycling machines to get vouchers which were exchanged for essential items for Foodbank, and dropped off at the West Halls every week.

It was a mammoth operation but very rewarding as they managed to donate a whopping £5,200 worth of groceries during this time.

Unfortunately, the recycling machines have recently been withdrawn so we are re-introducing ‘Bring a Tin a Week’ to encourage folk to bring items with them to Church on a Sunday to try and offset this. We already receive a monthly donation from Langbank Church who kindly collect for us, which will also help to make up the shortfall.

If you are unable to donate on a Tuesday but can bring some groceries along to Morning Worship on a Sunday, it would make a huge difference. There will be a tray at the rear of the Church each week and an up-to-date list of what the Foodbank is currently short of can always be found on our Facebook page.

And finally…

From April to September this year Renfrewshire Foodbank fed and provided for 6,607 adults and children, which is staggering for a relatively small county in Scotland – and just goes to show how vital our ongoing support is.

Thank you everyone.