HUNGRY people in Glasgow are so hard up they can’t afford to travel across the city to access food banks
Vincent Chudy, the manager of Glasgow Central Citizens Advice Bureau, said his staff were referring desperate people to food banks but some could not afford the travel expenses to get there.
He spoke as it was revealed a new service was to be launched in Calton. It will be run by the Trussell Trust charity, which already has two food banks in Glasgow – in Scotstoun and Govanhill – and is in the process of developing another to cover the south west of the city.
Mr Chudy said: “Advisers at Glasgow Central CAB have already had to issue vouchers for the food banks in the south of Glasgow, but some people have no money for transport.”
The new Glasgow North East Food Bank is to be run from Calton Parkhead Parish Church and will open its doors on September 19. Ahead of the launch, volunteers are appealing to people to help them stock the cupboards with non-perishable food. A collection is being held on Saturday at Asda, Parkhead Forge, 10am- 5pm.
Reverend Alison Davidge, Minister for Calton Parkhead Parish Church, said: “We guarantee whatever you donate will go to someone in real need in your neighbourhood.” The Evening Times reported last week on the Glasgow South East Food Bank in Govanhill, which gave out 3000 meals in a month. The service, managed by Audrey Flannagan, fed 219 adults and 116 children in June.
There are now 15 food banks across Glasgow – run by charities, church groups and volunteers.
All those who use the Trussell Trust food banks are referred there by social work, housing associations and the Citizens Advice Bureau. They are given vouchers, which are redeemed for bags of food. Mr Chudy added: “By linking in with food banks we are able to give advice to those in the most desperate situations and help these people resolve the underlying issues, such as benefit or debt problems. We have issued vouchers, but some people have no money for transport.
“Food banks are able to provide necessary short term relief but, at the same time, our social policy team is focusing on getting to the root of the problems and exploring why there has been recent need for food banks.
“By getting a true picture of the reasons why people in Glasgow are needing emergency food, we can use this information to tackle any underlying policy problems.”
by Linzie Watson in the Glasgow ‘Evening Times’, 3oth July 2013: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/hungry-cant-afford-to-travel-to-food-banks-131844n.21731733
