PEOPLE are being forced to travel across Glasgow to attend food banks as they struggle to make ends meet amid the cost-of-living crisis.  

Govan-based Glasgow South West (SW) Foodbank, which also has branches in Penilee, Cardonald, Linthouse and Priesthill, has seen people come from “the other side of the city” because they are so desperate for food they can’t wait for one to be open in their local area. 

Claire McCunnie, development manager, explained: "We are based in Govan on a Tuesday, and because it’s a Tuesday afternoon it’s a time that’s sometimes convenient for people. 

"We see people coming from the other side of the city and they’re coming on one or two buses. 

"People walk from the other end of Great Western Road and it just shows you how desperate people are that they can’t wait until the next day to when one opens locally beside them."

Glasgow Times:

Claire says the food bank has been helping more people this year, with a rise in the number of working families accessing the service. 

Mid-year stats say they have fed 4184 people, including 1452 children, and they have also fulfilled more than 1800 referrals.  

Like many food banks across the city however, Glasgow SW Foodbank has experienced a drop in donations as people feel the pinch.  

Glasgow Times:

She said: "It’s been a hard year.  

"In years gone by, we’ve been very lucky and when it’s buy one get one free, people have been able to put the free tin in [for donation].  

"But I think at this point everyone is feeling the pinch so that extra tin, they’re saying to themselves ‘I’ll put that in my cupboard’. 

"We’re very lucky we have our regular donators and the regular Churches and supporters, but it has been a difficult, difficult year."

Glasgow Times:

While all donations are appreciated, anyone who is able to donate to the food bank over the festive season is asked to provide items that "you and your family might sit down with on Christmas night", such as biscuits and selection boxes.  

Claire added: "We’ve got the essentials but we want to give people some more fun food."

As well as providing food, Glasgow SW Foodbank has a partnership with Money Matters and has financial advisors at each of the food banks when they are open.  

Glasgow Times:

They also have a partnership with The Alliance Group and they are piloting a project so that people struggling with their mental health can get support to attend appointments.  

Claire said: "As much as we are a food bank, we’re trying our best to make sure it’s a complete service and we’re ensuring people are getting proper support for going forward.  

"Our job is to make sure we have the correct support and that we’re supporting people who walk through our door."
 

We previously reported the Glasgow Times will be running the Bank on Us campaign for the fifth consecutive year, and we are encouraging our readers to get involved in a food drive.   

As part of the festive campaign, readers who are able to donate are being asked to fill the bags we supplied in our edition on Wednesday, November 15 with food items and hand them into one of our partner food banks, such as Rutherglen and Cambuslang Foodbank. 

This year, our Christmas campaign is more important than ever due to the cost-of-living crisis with thousands of families struggling to heat their homes and put food on the table.   

As well as the food drive, the Glasgow Times will be raising money for our Bank on Us toy drive via GoFundMe HERE.  

All proceeds will be used to purchase toys which will be distributed to charities across the city to be handed out to parents and put under the tree as we aim for every child in Glasgow to open a present on December 25. 

The Bank on Us 2023 campaign is proudly sponsored by Arnold Clark, Stagecoach, Allied Vechicles, Spar Scotland, Storage Vault and StepChange.   

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow SW Foodbank* 

  • Elderpark Workspace, Unit 65, 100 Elderpark Street, Glasgow, G51 3TR – opening hours: Monday, 10am-2pm 
  • Our Lady & St George Church, 50 Sandwood Road, Penilee, G52 2QE - opening hours: Tuesday, 10.30am-12.30pm 
  • Hillington Park Church, 24 Berryknowes Road, Cardonald, G52 2UD - opening hours: Friday, 10am-12.45pm 
  • Linthouse Housing Association, 1 Cressy Street, Glasgow, G51 4RB - opening hours: Tuesday, 2-4pm 
  • Priesthill Community Centre, 100 Priesthill Road, Glasgow, G53 6QL -opening hours: Thursday, 10am-12pm 

*opening times are correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change 

You can view the full list of partner food banks HERE.