Cost of living: Glasgow shop raises funds to run full time food bank

The Blankfaces opened on Great Western Road more than two years ago selling fashion designed by people who have experienced homelessness with an aim to change public perceptions and reduce stigma.

A vital part of the community, the shop also provides sleeping bags, warm clothing and toiletries to those in need as well as occasionally hosting food banks, including an emergency service on the day of the Queen’s funeral last year.

It was its most recent pop-up, however, that has inspired founder Gerard McKenzie-Govan to do even more for the local community as the cost-of-living crisis tightens its grip.

He said: “We held a pop-up food pantry last month in honour of my mum on what would have been her birthday.

“We noticed that some of the people who use our services hadn’t come in on that day so decided to stay open a bit longer rather than donating the leftovers to other food banks as we usually would.

“What we then found was that more and more people who don’t usually were coming in to pick up food.

“Seeing that just made me want to do more to help.”

Pictured: Gerard McKenzie-Govan using the space as a foodbank last year (Image: Newsquest)

The donations have not stopped coming since and Gerard now finds his office space filled with essential items like nappies as well as cupboard fillers ranging from tinned goods to breakfast cereals.

In an effort to fully convert the space into a full-time food pantry, the Blankfaces has launched a Crowdfunding appeal which calls for public support in a time that sees more people than ever relying on these services.

Gerard said: “Our brand is based on working with people who are experiencing homelessness, so we see every day how much of an issue that is.

“But there’s a stigma surrounding food banks where people think you need to be on your knees to use them.

“We’ve had everyone from nurses to teachers coming in and telling us how much the price has gone up on items they’ve always been able to afford before.

“I’ve got two young boys myself and I know how hard it is at the moment.

“It’s everyday people who are turning to food banks and we’re only going to see more of that in the future.”

While the obvious need for another permanent food bank is a troubling sign of the times, the shop team says that the main aim of the pantry is to encourage those in need to make use of a lifeline with no judgement or questions asked and hopes to one day expand across the city.

Gerard said: “The food pantry is non-referral so you don’t need a piece of paper saying that you need to use it.

“People can come in, pick up a bag, choose what they want and then leave.

“The money we’re raising would allow us to put some shelving in and have storage space as well as hiring staff to open for extra days.

“The West End is an affluent area but even still there are a lot of communities that are experiencing poverty and that’s the case across Glasgow.

“Running a food bank from a clothing store is not something that should be happening, but there’s a need for it that I see every day.

“It’s just the start for us and if this picks up then we would like to look at how we can take this further and help even more people.”

To visit the Blankfaces Crowdfunder page click here.