Cumnock Chronicle launches festive appeal to help East Ayrshire

With the cost-of-living crisis leaving many families in a worse financial position than ever before, this week we’re launching an appeal to Chronicle readers to support those in greatest need this festive season.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing stories from East Ayrshire Council, who are sponsoring the campaign, and from the Ayrshire East Foodbank about their work supporting families across the area – and encouraging you to make donations of food items, if you can, to help.

Our ‘Bags of Goodwill’ campaign will reach a climax in the December 14 issue of the Chronicle, when we’ll include a free paper bag with every copy of the paper - which readers can then fill with non-perishable food items to help residents struggling to make ends meet over the Christmas period.

Information from East Ayrshire Council on the help it is offering to hard-pressed residents is published on page 13 of the Chronicle this week, and will continue to appear throughout the campaign.

The campaign comes as the food bank faces a drop in the number of items donated, which Fiona Fawdry, chief executive of CVO East Ayrshire, which runs the Ayrshire East Foodbank in partnership with the Trussell Trust, believes is a direct result of increases in the cost of food and fuel.

Fiona says she appreciates that it is a difficult time for everyone, but fears that the huge financial pressure facing many residents could continue to push even more people over the edge.

“We have seen a change in the people we’re having to support,” Fiona told the Chronicle.

“We’re seeing a lot more people who are working that are having to use our services.

“A lot of people who have maybe been just getting by the past couple of years might not be able to do that this year.

“Especially this time of year, we are in really short supply of donations.

“Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment because everything seems to be going up apart from wages, so that’s probably why we’re seeing less donations.

“Anything anyone is able to donate is so appreciated.

“We’ve got information on our Ayrshire East Foodbank website about where the food provision centres are.

“We like people to phone in beforehand if they can, so we can ensure that they are getting the kind of things that they need.

“Some people are struggling with gas and electricity at the moment, so we don’t want to be giving someone in this position loads of food that needs heated up.”

The food bank has drop-off points at the Create a Smile Community Routes Hub, 46 Townhead Street, Cumnock; The Zone, 10 High Main Street, Dalmellington; Belford Mill, 16 Brewery Road, Kilmarnock; Onthank Community Church, Kilmarnock; St Matthew’s Church, Grassyards Road, Kilmarnock; and St Columba’s Church, Lainshaw Street, Stewarton.

Tesco stores across East Ayrshire also support the cause, with a dedicated drop-off point at its Auchinleck superstore.

Fiona added: “We take quite a holistic approach to what we do.

“We have a referral form to see if people are using any other services, so it’s not just a case of giving them food and they’re on their way.”

Craig Borland, deputy managing editor of Ayrshire Weekly Press, said: “We are asking Chronicle readers to get involved and support our food bank campaign.

“The bags in our December 14 issue can be filled with non-perishable food and dropped off at your local collection point.

“Each and every bag filled means help for those in need and we are proud to be able to offer this scheme.”

An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We are absolutely delighted to be supporting this food bank appeal, as part of the wider community food provision in East Ayrshire and we are grateful for the support and assistance from our partners and our volunteers in helping to make this happen.

“Many families struggle with the expense of Christmas and this year the impact of the cost-of-living crisis has only made things worse for some. The last thing we want is for anyone to go without food at this time of year.

“Food banks provide an essential service for those most in need, but foodbanks themselves also rely on donations in order to keep their service running.

“Our caring, kind and connected communities have done a fantastic job throughout Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, supporting each other and helping those in greatest need, and we need to keep this kindness going over Christmas.

“We can all do our bit to help and all food bank donations will be most welcome.”

You can get in touch with the food bank on 01563 550951, or search the Ayrshire East Foodbank website and Facebook page for more information.

Foodbank usage will only get worse over the Christmas period, with an unprecedented demand for supplies expected, according to CVO East Ayrshire’s Chief Executive, Fiona Fawdry.

CVO East Ayrshire manage Ayrshire East Foodbank on behalf of The Trussell Trust, and Fiona and the team are expecting this Christmas to be like nothing before.

The foodbank has been running in its current format for just under a decade, after CVO stepped in to save the East Ayrshire branch.

With collection and drop-off points in Kilmarnock, Cumnock, Darvel, Dalmellington and Stewarton, they supports thousands of people who are in need of support during these difficult times.

Having already seen an increase in demand for people using the foodbanks, part of the problem comes from this coinciding with a decrease in donations.

Tesco stores in the area also support the cause, with regular points for customers to drop off anything they are able to donate.

Fiona appreciates that it is a difficult time for everyone, but she fears that he current cost of living crisis could continue to push even more people over the edge.

“We have seen a change in the people we’re having to support. We’re seeing a lot more people who are working that are having to use our services.

“A lot of people who have maybe been just getting by the past couple of years might not be able to do that this year.

“Especially this time of year, we are in really short supply of donations.

“Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment because everything seems to be going up apart from wages, so that’s probably why we’re seeing less donations.

“Anything anyone is able to donate is so appreciated.

“We’ve got information on our Ayrshire East Foodbank website about where the food provision centres are.

“We like people to phone in beforehand if they can, so we can ensure that they are getting the kind of things that they need.

“Some people are struggling with gas and electricity at the moment, so we don’t want to be giving someone in this position loads of food that needs heated up”.

The team are keen to ensure they provide all the help they possibly can.

Fiona added: “We take quite a holistic approach to what we do.

“We have a referral form to see if people are using any other services, so it’s not just a case of giving them food and they’re on their way.”

An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We are absolutely delighted to be supporting this food bank appeal, as part of the wider community food provision in East Ayrshire and we are grateful for the support and assistance from our partners and our volunteers in helping to make this happen.

“Many families struggle with the expense of Christmas and this year the impact of the cost-of-living crisis has only made things worse for some. The last thing we want is for anyone to go without food at this time of year.

“Food banks provide an essential service for those most in need, but foodbanks themselves also rely on donations in order to keep their service running.

“Our caring, kind and connected communities have done a fantastic job throughout Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, supporting each other and helping those in greatest need, and we need to keep this kindness going over Christmas.

“We can all do our bit to help and all food bank donations will be most welcome.”

You can get in touch with the foodbank on 01563 550951, or search the Ayrshire East Foodbank website and Facebook page for more information.