Renfrewshire Foodbank is asking generous Express readers to dig deep and donate funds to help the vulnerable this Christmas

The vital service needs funding as it continues to help provide food to hungry individuals and families in the area who are struggling to make ends meet.

The foodbank has officially launched its Christmas appeal – with backing from the Express.

Manager Elizabeth Alexander said: “Everyone should have enough food to eat, but this is not the case.

“In Renfrewshire, people are going without food.

“People coming to the foodbank have been missing meals, often for days at a time.

“This may be because of unpredictable, insecure work with an unreliable income or unexpected benefit delays.

“Even an unexpected bill can be enough to leave someone on a low income without enough money to buy
food.

“Please help provide food to local people who are struggling to buy food for themselves and their families, by supporting the Renfrewshire Foodbank Christmas Appeal.”

Elizabeth has encouraged Express readers to come forward and do their bit by making either a one-off or monthly cash donation.

She said: “The reason we have to make sure we are financially sustainable is that we are supporting increasing numbers of people each year and with the Universal Credit rollout in Renfrewshire, we can expect our numbers to increase by 52 per cent in the following
year.

“This is what has happened to foodbanks in areas who have already experienced full rollout.

“We are the last resort for people.

“People come who have not eaten for a few days and would not eat if we could not provide for
them.”

During 2017/18, the foodbank provided emergency food for 8,600 people – of which approximately 2,400 were children.

Cash donations can be made securely online at give.net/foodbankchristmas

Alternatively, donations can be made by printing a form from renfrewshire.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money and posting the completed version to Renfrewshire Foodbank, Westway, Porterfield Road, Renfrew, PA4 8DJ.

Cheques should be made payable to Renfrewshire Foodbank.

Elizabeth Alexander can be contacted via manager@renfrewshire.foodbank.org.uk

As well as money, Renfrewshire Foodbank also needs the following:

Christmas treats such as biscuits, tinned sweets, crisps and nibbles.

Toiletries including toilet paper, shampoo, shaving gel and razors, shower gel, soap, toothpaste and deodorant.

It would be great for the team to also get some donations of longlife juice, tinned tomatoes, tinned fruit, tinned potatoes and tinned fish.

Where you can donate:

The Renfrewshire Foodbank donation centre at Unit 12, Abercorn Industrial Estate, 80 Abercorn Street, Paisley. Open on Mondays and Fridays from 10am to noon and Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm.

Drop boxes are available at Asda Linwood, Morrisons Johnstone, Tescos in Renfrew and Paisley, and the Co-ops in Neilston Road, Bridge of Weir, Houston, Kilbarchan and Bishopton.

You can also drop food donations off at the Paisley Daily Express office inside Paisley YMCA at 39 High Street, on the corner of High Street and New Street.