Bank on Us: We put paper bags in our newspapers to help food banks

Recyclable paper bags have been placed inside every copy of today’s Glasgow Times as part of our annual Bank on Us campaign.

These bags can be filled with non-perishable food items and handed into your local food bank based in Glasgow and the surrounding areas.

All donations received through the campaign will be handed out to people who will be relying on vital food banks this Christmas.

It comes as regular food bank donors can’t help as many now need the service themselves.

Glasgow South East Foodbank revealed donations are down as people struggle to cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

Denise Ritchie, left, foodbank manager with volunteers and staff at the foodbank, from left- Mairead Taylor, Kevin McCann, Donald Britton and Mark Nelson.  (Image: Colin Mearns) Staff at the hub said they have had people apologising insisting they normally chip in to help feed those in need, but are now in that position themselves.

It means they are scrambling to fill food parcels and keep up with demand, especially as Christmas approaches.

READ MORE: Food bank demand as families prioritise Christmas presents

The food bank is based in Govanhill which also has the highest child poverty rate in the UK.

Ruth Wilkinson, manager, said: “Donations are down on what we have had before because of the cost-of-living crisis, it is affecting everyone.

“People are coming to us every other year saying 'I would be helping you guys out, but this year I now need your services myself. I'm so sorry’.

“It is really hard for people to make ends meet, it means we are struggling to keep up with the demand.

“That is why the Bank On Us appeal is so helpful, anything that people can donate at all makes a huge difference.”

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Foodbank manager Denise Ritchie (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) Ruth added: “We see all sorts of people and want to help them all, it isn’t easy walking through the doors of a food bank.

“It is okay though and we want to assure people that we will treat them with respect and kindness, it can happen to anyone especially right now.

“I have been volunteering for years and I remember a time when food banks weren’t really needed, I believe we can get back to that.

“In the meantime we need to look after each other, so if anyone can donate anything at all we would really appreciate it as it makes a huge difference.”

Glasgow South East Foodbank is open to take donations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at: Unit 1, Govanhill Workspace, 69 Dixon Road, Glasgow, G42 8AT.

Volunteer Donald sorting items (Image: Colin Mearns) As well as the food drive, the Glasgow Times will be raising money for our Bank on Us toy drive via GoFundMe - which will deliver gifts to kids who may otherwise not have received a present to open this Christmas.

Previous campaigns have brought in more than £15,000 and delivered around 100,000 gifts to the city's most vulnerable children.

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

All proceeds will be used to purchase toys which will be distributed to charities 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 our readers 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 Wise Group.

We will be speaking with our sponsors and other food banks in the coming weeks.