The Rotary Club of Claverhouse has raised £2290 from Club funds to support the Dundee Foodbank in coping with much heavier demand during the lockdown period.
The impact of the Coronavirus has adversely affected many more households suffering from domestic hardship in the city, trebling the Foodbank output at its peak from the normal one ton to three tons per week to cope with the increased demand. Many families are not only suffering from lower incomes but also may have lost cooking facilities due to disconnection of electric or gas supplies.
Donations are used to purchase core food items including tinned meat, fruit, vegetables, puddings and UHT whole milk, assembled in quantities to cover a 3 day supply for each family on a continuing basis.
Nick White, a Claverhouse Rotarian and retired Dundee GP, is a member of the Foodbank Volunteer Group who help to assemble and despatch the daily orders in the warehouse. He commented “ The Foodbank is an enterprise close to my heart as I have seen at first hand the severe difficulties which many Dundee families have to endure through this challenging period. In common with all the workers and volunteers here, we want to show that we care by providing food to put on the table of those in our communities who are in need.”
Bob Black, President of the Rotary Club of Claverhouse said” I can think of no better cause to support than the Dundee Foodbank who work tirelessly to support families having to manage through these tough times. Pulling together and looking after the welfare of our fellow Dundonians is our Rotary priority. We are currently looking at new ways of generating funds as the lockdown prevents us from fundraising in the traditional way. The effects of the pandemic will be felt for some time to come and we must seek to provide long term support for our local communities”.
Ken Linton, Dundee Foodbank Manager added “ It is difficult to know how long this upsurge in demand will last while uncertainty in employment continues. Many families do not have savings to fall back on and they will require our support well into the future. We thank the Rotary Club of Claverhouse for their generous donation which will go to purchasing further supplies of basic foodstuffs”