Amazing support for Caithness Foodbank service
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Caithness Foodbank volunteers say they are amazed at the support they are receiving from the community during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Wick-based service chairman Grant Ramsay said: "We have had a lot of support from the community, both here and in Thurso. It has been amazing.
"We are busy and and I can see us getting even busier in the future if folk lose their jobs. We have been really thankful for the donations we have had and we are well stocked."
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a change to the normal running of the food bank, and delivery services are now operating on Tuesdays and Fridays with the help of High Life Highland volunteers.
Steering group member Pat Ramsay said: "Our clients are extremely grateful and we are working very closely with our referral agencies to ensure people are being supported. This is difficult when no face-to-face meetings are taking place.
"We are grateful to the many individuals, groups, organisations and fundraising events that are providing us with either food or toiletry donations or money."
She explained that Beverley Miller of Simply Bliss in Wick was keen to do something practical to help in a time of need and launched a competition on her business Facebook page to win a pair of designer shoes.
The winner could have the shoes dyed to the colour of their choice so that it was suitable for anyone to enter, not just brides.
Donations were set at £1 with entrants able to buy as many numbers as they liked – raising a total of £1370 along with personal donations made via PayPal.
Beverley said: “My husband Jonathan and I wanted to top up the donations to £1600 before handing over to the Caithness Foodbank, which we have done.
"We spent some of the money on items that the foodbank had suggested that they were struggling to obtain, like toilet roll, deodorant and jam, and the rest was sent as a cash donation. I really hope this can go some way towards helping local people in such difficult times.”
The food bank team were also delighted to receive a cheque for £1000 after Graeme Bremner, of Elzy Road, Staxigoe, nominated the service for a donation from the company he works for, Lomond Offshore.
Graeme’s children, Jayden and Layla, presented a “makeshift cheque” to Mr Ramsay, who said: “We are pleased to accept this generous sum of money from Lomond Offshore and welcome the support from the company.”
The service also had a visit from 11-year-old Cerys Norburn, of Forss, with her mum Louise, to drop off food donations to the Wick and Thurso centres. Cerys made rainbow clay badges and sold them to family, friends and the wider community, raising more than £200.
She is still making badges and will continue to sell them.
The volunteers were "chuffed" to receive their badge orders and are proudly wearing them. Mr Ramsay said: "Our rainbow badges are really special."
- Local businesswomen raise money for Caithness Foodbank
- Jeweller Kelly uses creative skills to help Caithness Foodbank
