Moray’s under pressure food bank network could be set for a boost with the announcement this week of a national emergency food fund in Scotland.
The Moray Food Bank has saw a phenomenal growth in demand for its services over the last year with the blame being laid firmly at the door of UK Government welfare changes.
The food bank has relied on donations from the public to meet growing demand with around 90% of the food distributed coming from public donation.
With demand continuing to grow, however, the Scottish Government this week set up a £500,000 emergency food fund – matching the £500,000 already committed to the charity FareShare to help with the distribution of surplus food from retailers.
Grants from the new fund will be on offer to all food aid organisations in Scotland who are being invited to apply by July 11 through the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform.
Moray MP Angus Robertson said: “The workers and volunteers at the Moray Food Bank deserve our admiration for the time and hard work they have put into the project.
“I have had the opportunity to speak to many of the volunteers and the experience they are able to pass on from those relying on the food bank is invaluable in understanding the importance of what they do.”
His Holyrood colleague Richard Lochhead MSP added: “Everyone involved with Community Food Moray is doing a fantastic job, as are those who are donating to the food bank to help those in greatest need.
“While I am appalled at the welfare decisions being taken in Westminster I am pleased that the response in Scotland from both communities and the Scottish Government has been to continue to provide as much support as possible, including through food banks, to those who need that support.”