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Community larder created in phone box to help Highland people affected by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic lockdown in Beauly


By Ian Duncan

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Roy Harrison with the phone box in Beauly Square which has become a community larder.
Roy Harrison with the phone box in Beauly Square which has become a community larder.

A BEAULY phone box has been transformed into a community larder to help those struggling as a result of Covid-19.

It is in Beauly Square and is the result of a grant from the Highland Council Resilience Fund following a successful grant bid by Beauly Community Council.

The funding has allowed the phone box, which is still in use, to be stocked with groceries.

The phone box in Beauly Square which has become a community larder.
The phone box in Beauly Square which has become a community larder.

Roy Harrison, the community council chairman, welcomed the funds and added: "Beauly Cares are doing a magnificent job in the local area looking after older people but we felt there was also a need to provide some support for those people who are struggling financially, particularly families and young people.

"This is an area that relies heavily on tourism and the pandemic will hit hard. We are grateful that BT Scotland have allowed us to use the phone box at Beauly Square and, if it proves successful, we will extend it to the other phone box at Beaufort Gardens.”

The phone box in Beauly Square which has become a community larder.
The phone box in Beauly Square which has become a community larder.

Shelves were fitted into the box by members of Beauly Men’s Shed and, as well as the grant, local businesses have agreed to support the larder including Corner on the Square, Morrisons and Scotmid.

As well as tinned food and dry goods, there will be other items such as nappies and toiletries and local residents are being encouraged to give donations too – if they have anything to spare.

Mr Harrison said: “We have no fridge, so we have to be careful about what items we can stock. We can’t have anything that needs to be chilled or frozen unfortunately, but we would welcome tins, bottles, dry goods and non-food items.

“We’ll be assessing how this works in the coming weeks and see what need there is longer term. We’re aware there are other community larder projects in neighbouring towns and villages which work well so this may be the start of something similar here in Beauly.”

People interested in making donations should drop them at the Church of Scotland Church Hall, off Croyard Road, on Mondays between 6pm and 8pm, Wednesdays from 2pm until 4pm and Saturdays between 10am and noon.

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