New lease of life for old Wick library as foodbank base
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WICK'S old library is providing a new home for the town's foodbank as it continues to meet demand from people in need of help.
Instead of books, the shelves in the former Carnegie library building are now well stocked with items of food.
The Sinclair Terrace premises provide the local charity Caithness Foodbank with extra space for storing stock and a comfortable seating area.
Originally the foodbank in Wick was set up in a garage in Dunnett Avenue, which meant clients could not visit actual premises and everything had to be delivered.
The foodbank then moved to Wick Youth Club in Lower Dunbar Street, where the team had the use of two small rooms.
Caithness Foodbank chairman Grant Ramsay said yesterday: "What we have now is 100 times better than what we had before. The youth club was very supportive of us but we outgrew the premises.
"This is larger – we have more room to store our stock and now have a nice area for folk to come in and discuss things with us. It will make a big difference to us and make it easier for people to visit."
Helping with the move were a band of supporters and volunteers, including the local Celtic Supporters' Club, Gary Gunn from KW1CK Deliveries, and drivers from Tesco and the Co-op delivery services.
It will make a big difference to us and make it easier for people to visit.
There has already been positive feedback from clients who have found that the new seating space provides a "nice relaxing area".
Mr Ramsay, who has been the foodbank chairman for two years, explained that clients were referred from other agencies such as Citizens Advice and Pulteneytown People's Project. He said they often help out people who are waiting to get Universal Credit set up, clients on low incomes, or families who may just have had an unexpected bill or other financial problem.
He said: "We are here to support people in an emergency situation. A family might just need a little bit of help."
If anyone drops in without a referral the volunteers will help put them in touch with the correct agencies as well as providing them with a food parcel to keep them going.
The service relies on donations and is supported by local churches and businesses as well as a large number of individuals.
In addition to food supplies the service has items such as nappies, toiletries and pet food.
Volunteers in the foodbank prepare packages of food using specific lists either for a single person or families.
The centre is short at the moment of milk, crackers and tinned tomatoes.
Caithness Foodbank also has premises in Princes Street, Thurso.
