Community food larders given names
The four community food larders in Blairgowrie and Rattray have been officially named.
The larders, which have been set up by the Blairgowrie and Rattray Coronavirus Co-ordination Group, provide free groceries for local residents.
It was a project that initially came about as part of ongoing efforts to ensure everyone in the community has what they need to get through restrictions imposed as part of the global coronavirus pandemic.
But those behind the initiative are keen that they stay in place for as long as possible to reduce food waste and encourage greater sustainability.
Lesley McDonald from Proactive Communities is one of the volunteers looking after the larders.
She said:“The service is open to everyone, there is no criteria, just have a look and see if there’s anything that you could use.
“Equally, if you have any items already in your cupboards you won’t use, please feel free to drop them off so someone else could use them.
“If you have bought too much of something and it would go to waste, swap it for something you would use.
“It’s all about the community supporting one another with the basic commodity of food – finances might be tight, the local shops might not have what you’re looking for, the kids might be eating you out of house and home – whatever the reason, there will be stock available.”
She added:“Since they were first set up a few weeks ago, they have been very well used, which shows there is definitely a need for them.
“There is a team of volunteers that regularly checks the larders and the response to them has been amazing, from people both donating and collecting items.
“We will be keeping the community larders going for as long as we can and as part of that we wanted to give them all a name.
“We held a public vote on social media earlier this month and the names were chosen based on the results of the polls.”
The community larder at Blairgowrie Bowling Club on Lochy Terrace in the town has been called Bowls of Help after the volunteerrun initiative at the premises during the coronavirus pandemic, while the one located at the Guide Hut on Emma Street has been called The Guiding Light.
The larder located in the grounds of the Community Connect building in Rattray has been called Fraser’s Fair Share after volunteer Fraser Bissett and the one on Ashgrove, also in Rattray, has been called Bob’s Barter Box after volunteer Bob Stewart.
For further information, follow the Give and Take Community Larders Blairgowrie and Rattray Facebook page.