A new community food project aimed at ensuring kids across Stirling don’t go hungry is set to have its first drop-in session this weekend.
The idea for the ‘Ma’s Kitchen’ programme was started by Braehead mum Alisha Robertson-McNabney and mum Jane Robertson after Alisha’s kids told her that a number of children were turning up to school after not eating on weekends.
After launching her campaign on Facebook, she has been inundated with offers of support from volunteers - including Stirling’s former MasterChef contestant Lisa Addison, who vowed to help with creating meals for those in need to enjoy.
The first drop-in event is now set to take place at Cowie Community Centre on Saturday between 1pm and 3pm.
All children under the age of 18 are welcome to come along, with a choice of lentil soup and spaghetti bolognese available alongside a milkshake or a juice - while parents can enjoy a coffee, cake and a warm space.
It’s hoped the project will move to other locations in the city over the coming weeks - with Alisha praising the army of volunteers who have come on board to help make things a reality.
Alisha said: “It’s been 14 hour days and hours of meetings with different people to try and get things moving; it’s been a long six weeks but it’s paid off because we’re opening on Saturday.
“It might be quite busy at times so it’s just a bit of a feeling out process - we’re hoping there won’t be a mass need for it, but we’ll be there for those who require it.
“The plan for this is for it to be zero wastage, so parents are also more than welcome to box up and label things to be taken away later in the day and we’re also doing a few drop-ins for people who aren’t able to make it there.
“We have lots of volunteers, we’re keeping it quite small this week just to see how things go - we have a lot of nurses and support workers who have got their PVG checks already and Volunteer Scotland are helping us put the others through it as well.”
