A CHARITY delivering critical shopping supplies to older people celebrated a major anniversary this week.

Food Train, which operates in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, passed its 25 year milestone on Monday.

The regional branch was first launched in Renfrewshire in 2013 and expanded into East Renfrewshire last year. 

In both areas the Food Train has already made almost 29,000 deliveries.

Its team controlling regional operations - taking customers’ grocery orders, doing their shopping and delivering items to their home - works from offices at Seedhill in Paisley.

The organisation made its first five deliveries in Dumfries, where it was founded, on June 29, 1995. The network now stretches across nine regions of Scotland, with more than 445,000 deliveries made.

Chief Executive Michelle Carruthers said: “If older people aren’t eating well, they’re not living well. If they’re not living well, then their health deteriorates. It’s that simple. 

“By getting groceries to them, we help them to eat better, live better and improve the general health of the areas in which we operate.

“The certainty of knowing someone you trust is going to bring your food every week has a positive impact on people’s lives. But Food Train is about more than just shopping, it’s about social contact. 

“Everyone connected with Food Train can be proud of our achievements."

Email shopping@thefoodtrain.co.uk or call 0800 3047924.

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

******************

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We're not exaggerating when we say the future of local newspapers and the vital service we have provided for many years is under threat.

Please consider supporting The Gazette in whatever way you can - by paying just 90p for a copy of the newspaper when you're shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others or by subscribing to our e-edition here.