A COMMUNITY project that provides vital support to people in need has been handed a welcome cash boost.
The £8,975 award from the National Lottery Community Fund will help the Lochwinnoch Food Committee deliver essential supplies.
With support from the Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) charity, the committee will continue to run a community larder project which is led by volunteers and provides dignified access to food to those in need.
Lochwinnoch Cares, which delivers food, medicine and essential items to vulnerable and isolating households, and Diggin’ It, which supports households to grow their own vegetables, will also benefit from the cash boost.
Tori Bell, project officer for Lochwinnoch Food Committee, told The Gazette: “We are grateful to this year’s funders not only for the awards themselves but for the speed with which funding applications have been turned around.
“This money goes back into the community and allows us to support a range of households, including the most vulnerable.”
Further help from Lochwinnoch Chatterbox and Linthills Limited means the community larder and Lochwinnoch Cares can continue to deliver services throughout the year.
Diggin’ It has already distributed seeds, planters and compost to nearly 70 households this year but more funding is needed to meet the high demand.
Local writer Alan Bissett, who established the community larder, said: “Our community, like many, is facing challenges due to Covid, so we are grateful to Tori Bell and LEAP for taking on the management of this project and ensuring its effective delivery into the future.
“We are also appreciative of the support from the National Lottery Communities Fund, which has probably meant our project can survive.
“Lastly, we want to recognise Lochwinnoch Community Garden and Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust, who have provided fresh vegetables, grown and harvested in the village, for our food parcels over the past year.”
Lochwinnoch Food Committee welcomes new volunteers and would like to hear from anyone who needs supplementary food, deliveries of essential items or help to grow their own vegetables.
All applications are completely confidential. For more details, call 0788 383 7284.
Renfrewshire residents are also being encouraged to help the local community project win £2,000 to help people in need.
Lochwinnoch Food Committee is one of a number of organisations in the running for the prize, which is being donated by Spar Scotland as part of its Community Cashback campaign and will be decided by public vote.
To show your support, visit www.sparscotland.co.uk/community/community-cashback/community-cashback-2021.
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