Growing numbers of Carnoustie residents are feeling the year-round benefit of a food share scheme initially launched to ease festive season difficulties.
The Food Share/Fare share initiatives were developed by Carnoustie Legion around six months ago as a means of preventing food going to waste, while maintaining valuable social links with families and veterans in the community.
Thanks to wide-ranging support and a dedicated band of volunteers, the numbers being helped by the scheme continue to grow.
Carnoustie Legion chairman Davie Paton said: “We currently support 30 individuals or families with a weekly food delivery.
“Any excess food that is donated goes to Woodlands or Burnside Primary Schools in Carnoustie.”
He added: “We are very conscious of the need to preserve recipient anonymity and food packages are delivered discreetly.
“We also do our best to tailor deliveries to recipient needs. For example, one gentleman recovering from an operation gets soup and ready meals which are easy to prepare, and families with young children all got Easter eggs last month.”
Through the Co-op FoodShare project, volunteers pick up surplus food twice a week.
“With Tesco’s FareShare, we order food on a Friday for a delivery on a Monday from the depot in Dundee. Each tray costs us 2 pounds but could have up to 20 pounds of retail food goods on a tray,” said Mr Paton, who previously worked in Carnoustie Co-op and witnessed first hand the struggle some families faced with their weekly shop.
He said the initiative was enjoying growing support from other areas of the community, including Carnoustie Gala Committee which has backed the idea financially and with food donations, as well as the golf links management committee.
The congregation of Panbride Church, through recently arrived minister the Rev. Annette Gordon, has also become a valuable supporter of the scheme.
Mr Paton added: “Until recently donations went to the food project in Arbroath or anywhere within the local area where there was need.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The Courier newsletter
“When made aware that there was an increasing need for food parcels in Carnoustie and that people from Carnoustie were travelling to Arbroath and Forfar to use the food banks, the Panbride congregation now regularly support Carnoustie Legion with weekly donations of food and other items.”
“We have been amazed at how the idea has taken off, and delighted with the support we have received.”
The group’s work was hailed by Scottish Government Veterans Minister, Angus South MSP Graeme Dey, on a visit to the initiative.
He said: “I was very pleased to be able to come and see first-hand the great work being done by Legion Scotland in Carnoustie, supporting those in our community that are most in need.
“Nobody in a country as prosperous as Scotland should have to rely on charitable food provision.”
