Community Fund Supports Local Group
With challenging times still facing lots of people there are many community groups in south Edinburgh helping out. One of those groups is the Gilmerton Community Centre, which runs its monthly Food Pantry to help anyone who finds themselves in need.
The non referral pantry gives people the opportunity to choose up to ten different food items, and three toiletries when available, for the cost of just £1. In addition to the regular Food Pantry, during the school summer holidays a child friendly corner operates with children choosing items including fruit, snacks, books and DVDs.
Funding the purchase of stock is a continual challenge, so earlier this year they twice applied to the Cameron Toll Community Fund for assistance and was awarded £1000 in total to help maintain their stock levels.
In addition, later in the year they also applied for funding to support a special Children’s Pic ‘n’ Wrap initiative. This programme sees children attending the Christmas Fair picking and wrapping a gift which they then give to two loved ones in their lives on Christmas day. The fund awarded a further £300 to help them with this worthy initiative.
Evelyn Rodger from Gilmerton Community Centre said: “Times are still very hard for lots of people in our community and the Food Pantry plays a big part in helping them out. Christmas brings added pressures to families so giving children a chance to choose and wrap a gift for someone important to them can be very uplifting for them. The funding we’ve had from the Cameron Toll Community Fund throughout the year has helped us maintain the service and make a difference to those who use it.”
Claire Jefcoate, Centre Manager at Cameron Toll said: “Gilmerton is just a short distance from the centre and we know that the Food Pantry and the Pic ‘n’ Wrap initiative help a lot of people in the community who are facing hard times. We know from visiting the centre all the hard work that is put in and we are happy that the Community Fund is able to help them out.”
