A resource centre set up by the West Lothian Foodbank has seen huge demand since opening its doors a month ago - with the charity shop selling out of furniture twice.
Alongside the foodbank service and pantry selling foodstuff at nominal cost, the charity shop sells furniture and kitchenware, clothes and children’s toys.
And the centre's new shop already has waiting lists.
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Steven Turnbull from the Foodbank told a meeting of Armadale and Blackridge Local Area Committee: “We have sold out of furniture twice since we opened on 31 October and we now have a waiting list for furniture items such as dining tables and chairs.”
The move to provide more than just food for struggling families is part of diverging work West Lothian Foodbank, and the wider national foodbank organisation, the Trussell Trust is moving to.
Steven told the meeting: “Our vision has always been to have a charity shop in the town. We have changed our motto not only to end hunger but also to end poverty. It’s not an easy task. 42,000 in West Lothian live below the poverty line.”
"We have this vision where we want to serve the people of Armadale and help them move above that poverty line. Two generations ago if you were born in poverty you had an 80% chance of moving out of poverty through social mobility. Today it’s only a 20% chance.”
In a two tier approach the resource centre operates a foodbank three days a week where people in crisis are given at least a week’s worth of fresh and ambient food. Operating on alternate days is the food pantry, selling heavily discounted food.
The centre has also employed two link workers who are working with local families and children, providing music groups for primary school children working with the Big Noise charity. There have also been buggy walks organised for mums and, as the weather improves next year, the small garden area will be developed as a playground.
There’s a small growing area in the grounds of the centre which has been planted with fruit trees and several gardening projects designed to encourage fruit and veg growing programmes have been established.
It is as much about building empowerment and confidence. The centre has the support of the local Mill Garden centre, the Royal Horticultural Society and the Men’s Shed.
“We have been looking for premises in Armadale for about two years," Steven said. "We have taken the building for a lease for a year and hope to purchase it next year."
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