Over 1,300 food parcels have been delivered to vulnerable and isolated people in Glasgow as part of a scheme led by the Red Cross.
The charity has been working with Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) on the Winter Food Project, launched to help people experiencing food poverty during the coldest months of the year.
One East End resident told volunteers that the delivery had saved their life, as they had no food in the cupboards.
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Emergency response volunteer Kirsty McKenzie, who has been taking parcels to struggling residents over the last five months, said: “Many people I’ve visited have never been in this situation before, and asking for help is very difficult for them.
“The appreciation we get from the people we’ve been visiting is, at times, overwhelming.”
The food parcels are designed to feed people for two days, when no other options are available. Referrals are made via community-based workers and parcels are then hand delivered by Red Cross volunteers.
Each parcel includes contact details for Glasgow Helps, a new service which helps citizens access the right support for their needs. It is run by the council in partnership with the Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector.
Another Red Cross volunteer, Christine Pert, said: “A lot of thought has gone into the content of our food parcels. We have catered for vegan, halal, vegetarian, high fibre, low sugar and diabetic diets.
“We have also supported new mothers with baby formula, nappies, wipes and sanitary products, along with other essential non-food items like shower gel and toothpaste in all parcels.”
While Ann Brogan, who has been volunteering with the charity for 42 years and oversees the welfare of the team, added: “When our volunteers are out in the community, they are supporting people who are often destitute, fallen on hard times or experiencing mental health issues.
“Delivering crucial projects like this can be very rewarding but they can also hit on our volunteers’ emotional well-being. Making sure I am there to support our team, and create a safe space to share their experiences, helps them to continue offering this vital lifeline to people.”
Robert Murray, home care service manager at Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, said the project has been “a lifesaver for some of our most vulnerable service users”.
“The staff and volunteers at the British Red Cross worked hard to ensure that those identified as being at risk of food poverty received a parcel,” he added.
“Every parcel included contact details for Glasgow Helps — a service dedicated to helping citizens of Glasgow find the right support at the right time.
“What became clear during the project is the important role volunteers play. They have been a source of kindness, compassion and at times, a friendly listening ear.”
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