WHITECROOK community centre volunteers have been working to support children and families by supplying food parcels and activities during the lockdown.

A food bank based at Centre 81, on Braes Avenue, has been inundated with requests recently. It is also supporting Whitecrook Primary to ensure youngsters get a packed lunch, despite schools being closed.

The centre also receives funding from West Dunbartonshire Council and the National Lottery Fund for its “hungry holidays” – an initiative aimed at supporting families who would otherwise struggle during school breaks.

The steering group is usually attended by school and nursery pupils from the Whitecrook catchment area but since funds cannot currently be spent on activities, the group has treated the children to Easter eggs.

John White, chair of Whitecrook Community Council and food bank volunteer, said: “It’s a real shame that the steering group has had to stop and the food bank is being operated with people waiting outside the centre as we are trying to reduce contact.

“We are a tight-knit community in Whitecrook and we all try to support one another. The kids have really missed their club and we have missed the community and social aspect of providing the services we normally would.

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“However, we are glad we can still support and we have been lucky to be supported by a number of local organisations who donated food supplies and Easter eggs. We have now been able to give one to all the kids who usually attend the steering group, as well as some to the hospice and some to the Golden Jubilee Hospital.

“We have also given out 108 activity packs to the kids who attend so they have something fun to do while they are at home.

“A number of elderly residents have had to rely on us which is a shame, you would hate to see anyone’s wee granny going without, but they are too proud to ask.

“We all need to pull together. Centre 81 is at the heart of the community and Gill [McCormick] has worked hard to enable us to meet the social distancing guidelines while assisting the community, even if it’s just a case of dropping off tea bags, milk and a wee box of biscuits to the elderly neighbours.”

The food bank has received a number of donations from local organisations and supermarkets, offering fresh food and tinned products for vulnerable groups.

Previously, the food bank services would be offered to people referred by social services or local schools, however they have not operated an eligibility criteria as circumstances for many people have changed