KIND-HEARTED staff at a popular bingo hall are doing their bit to support hundreds of vulnerable people across the East End.

Workers at Mecca Bingo, in the Forge Retail Park, have linked up with a number of partners to provide meals to those who need them most during the coronavirus ­lockdown.

Key workers with a Blue Light Card are being treated to a free to a free lunch, delivered via Uber Eats, while they are working closely with Glasgow Covid Mutual Aid to deliver support packages across the East End.

They have also teamed up with ‘Covid-19 Warriors’ in Hamilton to provide food to care homes in the South Lanarkshire town.

Paul McGlinchey, general manager of the Mecca branch, told the Glasgow Times: “We just feel we have a duty of care to our regulars who often come in their hundreds to the bingo.

“We have a close relationship with our more regular customers and it is important to make sure they are okay during this difficult time.

“It is important for people to come and not be scared to ask for help. Understandably, some worry they are not at the level of needing our support, but we are helping so many.

“The bingo is a community and it is where many come together and spend time with their friends, which they are unable to do right now.

“Our average age of customer is around 60-70 and we feel we have a duty of care and have been contacting our regulars to make sure they are okay.”

Paul and other staff have swapped their usual work for making meals in the kitchen to be distributed to those who need them.

They have already handed out hundreds of dishes and Paul expects they will only help

more and more as the pandemic continues.

He added: “We are doing our bit much like Celtic across the road who are helping so many people with their academy.

“But, the people who are going into care homes are the real heroes. Not us.”

For more information, email manager@mecforge.rank.com.