Donations needed for Tarbert Food Bank ahead of Easter break

From Volunteer Centre Western Isles

Following the appeal for donations in December, the office at the Old Primary School was filled with generous contributions. These donations have supported the new foodbank and aided those in need in our islands. Thank you to everyone that donated.

In the first couple of months, it has become clear that the foodbank is very much needed in Harris, with it being topped up at least once a week. To keep the foodbank in the bus waiting area in Tarbert stocked, we rely on the wider community, and the support of local businesses and organisations.

We were delighted to have a visit from Sandra, Charlie and Ian, representatives of the Eilean Siar Foodbank, to gain some useful funding information, invaluable advice on how to run a self-service food-bank and perspectives from the volunteers’ side. They contributed several boxes of food, which is helping to keep our shelves topped up.

We have established a great link with them now and they are on hand to support us going forward.

As part of the visit they met a group of pupils from Sir E Scott who will be representing the food bank during their Youth & Philanthropy Initiative later in the year.

Following that visit, it became clear that we should have a bank account to enable us to apply for external funding to buy the food required. We have now partnered with Harris Voluntary Service, who will be holding our funds from now on and supporting us with funding applications.

We would like to thank North Harris Community Council and our two local councilors for their monetary donations. We would also like to thank Eva Kreileder (Harris Forum) for all her hard work in getting this project off the ground.

- Please continue to donate to us, if you can.

Donations can be dropped off at Room 12, Old Primary school building Monday – Thursday 9am -3pm.