ALDI GLASGOW - AULDHOUSE RETAIL PARK

We have been actively running a Pantry based in Greater Pollok with over 1000 member to date. The Pantry is struggling to keep up with the demand and could do with any help it can get. It means families can access food in a dignified manner as they get to choose the items that they actually want instead of getting food that is no use.

Shine your light community rebuild lives, by promoting the wellbeing of single parents and their children, to assist them with various issues that prevent and eradicate poverty. Food is presenting a big challenge to our members as they are mostly refugees and asylum seeking single parent who are deprived and can only survive from our support of additional food provision. The cost of living has further worsened their situation as their household income is too little to but them good food. Shine your light community requires food surplus donations for our members who are refugees and asylum-seeking single parents. When food surplus donation is granted to our organisation, our volunteers would pack, arrange and distribute to our disadvantaged members around Glasgow. We hope to receive food supply from M&S, Aldi, Lidl and Sainsbury around us. We redistribute surplus from 620 Hillpark drive and we deliver to our other members at their doorstep since they are disadvantaged to afford transport cost for collection. Our members are now over 50 single parents and they have told us during group meetings how they are deprived of quality food due to the high cost of living and their low income. We recently supported our members with food vouchers on the 11th of February. We regularly hold mental health (MH) and wellbeing workshops to discuss MH coping strategies and awareness on the symptoms of MH and how to access professional support when required. We do not charge any amount for our services. Our members receive our support freely. We were collecting food items from Lidl at Giffnock in Glasgow but we were recently stopped as they have told us to go through neighbourly to continue to receive food surplus from them. Aldi has also told us to go through neighbourly. Our members do not presently have any food support from us this year and we hope we would be supported to provide additionally food for those deprived and living in poverty in Pollokshaws are of Glasgow. The local press has not showcased our work but our distribution and photos can be found below and on our social media links (Facebook) @ https://www.facebook.com/shineyourlightcommunity/ Yes we have partnered with some local organizations like Scottish Refugee Council, African Future, Pollokshaws community hub and others.

Homeless Project Scotland is a fledgling charity, set up in October 2019 by a handful of volunteers that wanted to give homeless people on the streets  of our towns and cities hot drinks and food during the harsh winter nights. Initially we set out with backpacks of flasks and sandwiches walking the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh to ensure that anyone found struggling was able at least to get a hot drink and something to eat. Within a short period of time, we managed to recruit a team of volunteers who began to distribute a selection of food, essential toiletries and warm clothes.  We were  fortunate to enlist the support from major companies such as Aldi, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons and Marks & Spencer, who have kindly donated supplies of food which we collect  during the day and then distribute to homeless shelters throughout Glasgow, Edinburgh and Lanarkshire in the evenings. Recently we were generously given free use of a van from Arnold  Clark which has enabled us to increase our collections and deliveries. Within six months we also managed to buy and renovate an old trailer which we use to provide a soup kitchen in Glasgow city centre three nights a week. The Covid-19 crisis has forced us off the streets and we have adapted our services to continue to support the homeless and vulnerable by providing home-cooked meals prepared by our volunteers , which we deliver weekly to homeless projects around Glasgow and Lanarkshire. 2,500 Weekly. A grant from Foundation Scotland has enabled us to set up a 24 hour telephone helpline. Cash for kids have provided funding  for food parcels, top up cards for utilities and mobile phones. We have also been able to provide mobile phones to the most vulnerable allowing them to access help and support services.  A grant from the William Grant Foundation has made it possible  to purchase office equipment, enabling us to  improve and expand our services to an ever increasing client base. By July 2020 We  have provided 2500 meals weekly to the homeless and vulnerable.   http://www.homelessprojectscotland.org/our-story/