East Renfrewshire Foodbank moving to a new home

The foodbank recently signed a three-year, rent-free deal with East Renfrewshire Council to move to the ground-floor of council offices at 14 Lowndes Street and hopes to be up and running by the end of the month.

The facility has been operating for more than seven years and prior to the impact of Covid-19, provided support to around 50 families across the whole authority who are living in food-poverty each week.

As an umbrella organisation of the Trussell Trust, the foodbank is open two days per week, Tuesdays from noon-2pm and Fridays from 2-4pm.

The foodbank aims to always provide a minimum three day supply of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to the people of East Renfrewshire who are in crisis.

Councillor Alan Lafferty, convener for Environment said: “The East Renfrewshire Foodbank is an absolutely vital service in Barrhead.

“It provides a lifeline to many residents across East Renfrewshire each week, so I was delighted that the council were able to co-locate services and find an appropriate office space for the foodbank to relocate to during what is incredibly difficult times for everyone.”

Stan Esson, from East Renfrewshire Foodbank, added: “The foodbank is relied upon by a lot of people in East Renfrewshire so it was essential that we were able to find a new facility and continue providing assistance.

“The whole team were relieved and so grateful when East Renfrewshire Council were able to offer us a new office space to move into, with the added benefit of being not too far away from our old premises.”

Non-perishable tinned and dried food donations are accepted at Lowndes Street during the foodbank’s opening hours.

Asda Barrhead and Newton Mearns, Tesco Barrhead and Waitrose Newton Mearns also have permanent collection baskets for shoppers who wish to donate.