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Thurso community sharing shed proving popular


By Jean Gunn

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A community sharing shed in Thurso has been proving popular with local people who are needing a helping hand.

Set up by the Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT), the service is located within the archway of the town's youth club.

The community sharing shed was one of the first projects the trust wanted to organise and over the current pandemic a rush was put on to find a temporary location.

"We recognised there was a need now," said TCDT development manager Joan Lawrie.

The group was able to utilise a storage shed at the youth club and organised shelving for food, toiletries and some art materials.

Ms Lawrie said: "It gives a helping hand to folk that might need it. Not everybody can go through the process of going to the food bank.

"It is all surplus food – the main aim is to reduce food waste within the community.

"We are restocking it on a daily basis – it has been really popular so far with very positive feedback. It is just a good community initiative and kindness is one of the main aims we have for the trust."

Ultimately the plan is to have permanent location at the youth club and a shed is currently on order. The permanent facility would have fridges so that produce from the trust's garden project could also be stored.

Among those making use of the local service, which has been operating since the end of July, are carers and support workers.

One of the trust board members is working on making recipe cards, specifically to help people with ideas for some of the tinned items, such as chick peas.

The development manager explained that originally they were just going to have a fridge and not a shed, but now it was more like a community larder. They also plan to have a freezer so they can utilise bread and cake, the things that get wasted most.

TCDT have been fortunate to receive deliveries from CFINE, a north-east community food initiative.

Ms Lawrie said: "It is literally like a ton of food a month that we get."

Toiletries has also been a big thing for people who are struggling.

The sharing shed is open from 10am to around 6pm Monday to Friday.

Those using the facility are asked to take along their own bag, use hand sanitiser before touching any items, and only take what they need.


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