A big-hearted Ayrshire businessman is giving back this Christmas, pledging to offer up a hot meal and a warm, safe space for the elderly in need.
As the bitter nights draw in and the cost of living crisis tightens its grip on our community, Imran Ali has come up with the novel 'heat and feed' scheme.
The Bourtreehill Supermarket owner is set to open his shop doors from Monday, December 12, until early spring to the elderly after feeling the effects of the area's Age Concern closure.
Imran said: "In the past, our 10p carrier bag charge and donations from customers into our charity boxes would go towards Age Concern, which was a fantastic organisation, but since it closed down all of the money has been building up so we wanted to give back to the elderly in the area who don't have a place to go anymore.
"My family have been in the scheme for 35 years and I know a lot of the older people in the community.
"Many are isolated from their families or fearful about how to heat their homes and afford food right now with the cost-of-living crisis.
"And that's where the idea for the heat and feed scheme came from.
"The soft play area will be used for anyone coming in for a meal and a warm space to socialise and have a chat between 5pm and 7pm."
The Scottish Asian Business Award winner also spoke about the generous community spirit in Bourtreehill.
He added: "The people here are so generous, my charity boxes always fill up so fast and this is a great time to give back.
"The kitchen staff have offered to give up their free time to volunteer to prepare the food and I have a bunch of volunteers who will help deliver meals to those who can't make it along or on those days when the weather is really bad."
Imran is hopeful this initiative will grow into something more.
He said: "The project will offer either soup, stovies, haggis neeps and tatties, fruit, and a small carton of juice.
"I know this is a hard time for everyone, and I hope one day we can extend this to vulnerable families - we'll review this at the end of March."
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
