Stirling’s main foodbank has launched a campaign to help struggling families over the summer period.
Start Up Stirling say for many parents the dilemma is not whether or not to go on holiday - it’s about foregoing meals to make sure their children don’t go hungry.
The charity is also hoping to relieve some of the pressures involved in sending children back to school once the break is over.
Its communities and fundraising manager Julie Christie said: “The school summer holidays are a time for enjoying the sun and relaxing.
“However, for the families that we support at Start Up Stirling, the choice is not what destination they plan to travel to on their break, but how to stretch scarce resources to try and make ends meet just to feed their families.
“We know that on many occasions, parents go without food to make sure that their children aren’t hungry.
“Summer for them can be one of the toughest times of the year, having to feed growing children and young people for the duration of the school holiday, which has become even more difficult this year with the rising cost of food.
“We want everyone to enjoy their summer break - but please don’t forget to support us at Start Up Stirling this July.
“We rely upon the public’s help 52 weeks of the year, as poverty and hardship don’t go away when the weather gets warmer.
“We can only provide the food support that the children and young people who are living in hardship need across the Stirling area with the public’s help. We have a special summer shopping list of the items that we will need the most over the following weeks.”
Last year, Start Up also asked for support to provide new school bags - and are appealing again this year.
“We did this so that children and young people could start the school year with a new bag, helping to raise their confidence and self-esteem,“ said Julie. “The response was fantastic and 80 children and young people went back to school last year with a new bag and stationery, plus water bottles and lunch boxes.
“This year, as well as asking people to consider supporting us with this, we are also looking for healthy snacks and cereal bars, to make sure that every child has a bag and lunch to go back to school with.
“We have a Back to School bag supplies list of the items that we need the most.”
To help with the Summer Food and School Bags campaigns, funds can be donated (including online). Donors are being encouraged to apply Gift Aid where possible, so that Start Up Stirling benefits from a further 25 per cent of the value of the donation.
Donations of food can also be dropped off at donation stations throughout the Stirling area, including tinned or dried food.
Donations for the Back to School bag supplies list or the summer shopping list can be handed in at the Thistle Centre donation point, at Nationwide in Port Street, via the charities’ donation stations or at its warehouse at 16B Whitehouse Rd, Springkerse Industrial Estate, Stirling FK7 7SP.
An Amazon wish list also features a selection of school bags, rucksacks, water bottles, school supplies and snacks, which will be sent directly to the charity.
“This was very popular last year, and with cases of Covid rising, provides a safe, convenient way to support us,” said Julie.
“We are also asking people to hold fundraising events with friends and family and we will be encouraging people to let us know about any events that they are planning.
More details on how to help can be found at: https://startupstirling.org.uk/news
