A FREE food pantry founder has revealed they are helping more and more working household families amid the cost of living crisis.

As part of our Bank on Us 2024 campaign, we spoke to Maureen Cummings of Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (OKFP).

The initiative, based in West Dunbartonshire, was launched in May 2020 by Maureen and her husband Gordon during the coronavirus pandemic to help members of the community.

Maureen Cummings (Image: Colin Mearns) It began with just four volunteers but now has more than 40 and provides 500 households a month with food and toiletries. 

The charity is based out of Napier Hall on Dumbarton Road, having recently celebrated its one-year anniversary in the building, after previously having a residence on Station Road.

Maureen opened up on the essential service that they provide.

She said: "We have worked with over 150 volunteers since we started, with a lot coming and going

"We feed roughly 1200 people a month.

"The biggest increase in the demographics of people we have seen using the service are in working families and those who are retired.

"When we first started we did not have any working families who came to us for help and seen none in the first two years.

"However, in the last 12 months, they have made up 20 per cent of the households we have helped."

The free food pantry provides a lifeline for the community (Image: Colin Mearns) As well as providing food and toiletries, the charity also aims to combat social isolation and offer a safe space for children and families.

Maureen also detailed other help the registered charity offers to the community.

She continued: "Where we have noticed an increase is in the number of people using our Chatty Café which we run alongside the food pantry.

"It also doubles as a warm hub during the winter.

"We have a lot of families, those living on their own and on small budgets coming to see us in the afternoon over the winter.

"They get to have a hot meal and some company during a difficult time.

"Visitors do not need money to enjoy hot food in our Chatty Cafe, we always have free food and drinks available to anyone in need."

Maureen Cummings, left, and director of the Chatty Cafe Janine Taylor, right (Image: Colin Mearns) Maureen also revealed that donations are currently at an all-time low.

While she is grateful for the donations the group have received over the last four years, she admitted resources are currently stretched thin.

She added: "We are desperate for tinned goods such as beans, as well as things like pasta and sauces.

"Men's toiletries are another thing we really need as it seems to be an area we are a bit light in.

"We are very grateful to everyone who donated food and toiletries to us and we need you more than ever during the winter months when demand for our free food pantry always increases."

We previously reported that the Glasgow Times is running the Bank on Us campaign for the sixth 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 will be supplying in the paper on Friday, November 22, with food items and hand them into their local food bank.

The Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels pantry is open Monday to Friday between 12pm and 2pm, with no referral required.

The Chatty Cafe opens on the same days between 12pm and 4pm.

It will close on Friday, December 20 and reopen on Monday, January, 6 at 12pm.

The pantry will operate normal hours until December 22.

Festive opening times:

  • December 23 and 24 - 12pm to 1pm
  • December 25 and 26 - Closed
  • December 27 - 12pm to 1pm
  • December 30 and 31 - 12pm to 1pm
  • January 1 to 2 - Closed
  • January 3 - 12pm to 1pm

It will then return to a normal schedule from Monday, January 6.

Maureen Cummings and the rest of the team at Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (Image: Colin Mearns) As well as the food drive, the Glasgow Times will be raising money for our Bank of Us toy drive via GoFundMe.

This year we want to support families at Christmas in the hope that every child across the city and surrounding areas will open a present on December 25.

We are hoping for our readers, nurseries, schools, and businesses to get behind the campaign by donating.

All proceeds will be used to purchase new toys which will be distributed to charities around the town to be handed out to parents and put under the tree.

Stacey Mullen, editor of the Glasgow Times, said: "Times are tough, families are facing so much hardship amid the cost of living crisis, and if we can all take a moment to spare a thought for them and give something back, no matter how small, it will make a huge difference.

“The greatest thing about editing this newspaper is knowing that Bankies all look out for each other and doing this campaign will no doubt prove that.

“So thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us with Bank on Us.”

You can donate towards our toy bank by clicking HERE. 

The Bank on Us 2024 campaign is proudly sponsored by Allied Vehicles, Arnold Clark, Smyths Toys Superstores, SPAR Scotland, Stagecoach, StepChange, Storage Vault, and the Wise Group.

We will be speaking with our sponsors over the coming weeks, as well as other food banks.