A DALMUIR charity has thanked the kind-heartedness of a nearby community after they were gifted over £1600 to help children entering care.

Run by Fiona Hennerbry, West Dunbartonshire Foster Carer’s Bags Full of Love initiative has been donated £1,661.95 by the Men’s Association which serves residents in Baldernock and Milngavie.

The charity – which works out of the Dalmuir Barclay Church - aims to give every child entering foster care, kinship care and residential homes a new backpack filled with new comfort and personal care items that they can call their own.

And secretary of the Men’s Association Brian Adair told the Clydebank Post he hopes the donation can go a long way to helping those youngsters.

He said: “I was very pleased to attend the drop-in café at the Dalmuir Barclay Church to hand over cheques to Fiona.

"Fiona was overwhelmed by the generosity shown to the charity by her fellow Christians in Milngavie."

The money was raised through the Men’s Association holding a coffee morning in October, where ticket sales and the provision of donations helped them pull together £1,261.95.

In addition, Elizabeth McEwan, President of the Guild in St Paul’s Church in Milngavie, had continued her late husband’s work in making cards for the congregation and she raised a further £400.

Fiona added: "We are extremely grateful to St Paul’s Church Milngavie for supporting Bags Full of Love. The money they have raised will enable us to continue to provide our backpacks to children across West Dunbartonshire who are entering foster or residential care."

Each bag that is given to the children contains items such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, a hairbrush, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a photo album for making new memories, a water bottle, a soft toy and blanket, underwear, pyjamas and an outfit.

Babies will also have nappies and wipes.

All goods given are brand new, with each bag costing between £70-£100 depending on the child's age.