Dingwall Tesco shoppers rally to local community fridge donation drive as cost of living crisis sparks spike in demand for food essentials
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BIG-HEARTED Dingwall shoppers rallied to answer a spiralling demand within their own community from people caught in the cost of living crisis.
The school summer holiday period is seeing a spike in demand for essential items provided by the Dingwall Community Fridge volunteer group.
At the height of the Covid pandemic, it was a godsend for many, redistributing tonnes of food from supermarkets and donations and offering a social point of contact.
Soaring energy and food prices since have increased demand amongst those feeling the pinch – the absence of school meals during the six-week holiday break adding to the pressure for some.
A three-day collection inside the Dingwall Tesco last week saw shoppers invited to contribute essential items if they wished – resulting a 101 boxes being delivered to fridge volunteers this week.
Group secretary Liz Jack said: "People are using it now more than ever. We need things like this to keep it going. A lot of people are very grateful and some have said they wouldn't know where they would be without the fridge. One lady was standing crying outside because she wasn't sure if she should go in or not. It is there for everybody who needs it."
Tesco community champion Michelle Mackay said the collection was part of the company's summer food collection scheme partnering The Trussell Trust and FareShare. Paying tribute to "generous and loyal customers", she said: "A phenomenal 101 boxes of long life food and £380 were collected over the weekend."
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The Dingwall project has been led by Andrew Smith and Fiona Harrison and a core of around nine volunteers who give up their time to collect donations and stock the community cupboard, located near St Clement's School.
The Co-op stores in Conon and Dingwall also donate generously on a regular basis with daily pick-ups.
Ms Jack said: "We want people to let others know that we are there. I think being in store on those three days helped get that out there. I really want to help people. It's about talking to people who really need the help and how grateful they are."
The group needs to meet costs of around £700 a year for insurance and to cover bin collection. Donations to offsetting that are always welcome.
More volunteers and donations are always welcome.
It has a Facebook page.
If you have a community story for us, email hector.mackenzie@hnmedia.co.uk
