When Covid-19 reached the UK in early 2020 Sheila Hume decided to retire from her 39-year career as a childminder and focus on charity work.
She set up a food collection box outside her home in Inchture, and distributed the donations to those in need during lockdown.
What started out as a solo mission and a small selection of food parcels has now snowballed into a wider community initiative, with Sheila partnering with several nearby community groups.
“Once the virus settled down and people were going out again, I was able to progress on to helping more charities,” Sheila said. “I linked up with The Bananabox Trust, Social Flock Perth and now the Lochee Community Larder in Dundee.”
Brian Cox visit
Lochee Community Larder recently featured in a Channel 5 documentary about wealth, where actor Brian Cox returned to his hometown to speak to those affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
The Hollywood actor is seen visiting the larder, with one woman who is collecting a parcel sharing her story with him.
She says: “My electricity has gone up from £44 a month to £170. It really is hard going.
“We prioritise our children and go without.
“I think that’s what all adults and parents are doing just now really, isn’t it?”
Parents can choose Christmas presents
Now, Sheila is doing everything she can to minimise the struggle for those using the larder.
She continued: “I use community Facebook pages to ask for specific items to take to the larder.
“What I am getting for them is the usual clothes, uniforms and warm coats, but specifically right now I need items for their warm space sessions, like hats, scarves and hot water bottles.
“A lot has been coming into the porch box but I am keen to draw attention to it because the demand for supplies at the larder is much higher than they can get.
“They are wanting coats and jackets so I have appealed for this on social media to see if the Inchture community can help.
“I am also collecting Christmas donations for children which I will take to the larder by December 14 so parents can choose Christmas presents.”
Trust from 39 years in community
Sheila explained that after working in the community for 39 years, she had built up an element of trust and people were only too happy to deliver donations to her collection box.
“The community trusted me with their food donations which I took to those who needed it.
“It then progressed on to trusting me with clothing because now I get the best of stuff to give to the larder.
“I feel like this initiative has shown how a community can get together and use a £10 box from B&Q to dress people, to feed people and to bring people together. It’s quite amazing.”
Larder relies on Sheila’s community
The Lochee Community Larder has come to rely on Sheila and the community she has brought together, with the donations proving vital.
Sam Roberts, a volunteer at the larder, said: “Sheila has been delivering donations to us for over three months now.
“She has been so helpful, getting us bags full of clothes, food and toiletries.
“She also checks every item before it comes to us and cleans each item of clothing so it is ready to give out when it arrives at the larder.
“We wouldn’t be able to do half of what we do if it wasn’t for Sheila.
“She is a lifeline and just a lovely person.
“We’ve even started asking her for specific items that we are in need of and she asks the community for these.
“We now work in partnership with Sheila and the Carse of Gowrie community.
“We now need hats, gloves and warm coats that we can give out at our cosy spaces, where we also give out hot meals.”
Opening times
The Lochee Community Larder cosy spaces are open on Tuesday and Friday evenings from 6-8pm, as well as Saturday afternoons from 2-5pm.
For more information contact Sheila Hume on Facebook.
Conversation