Food Facts Friends Community Hub - Van Fund

Hi

My name is Reg Dunbar. I am the current Chairperson of Food Facts Friends Community Hub (Scottish Charity - SC047203).

Food Facts Friends Community Hub (FFF) at 42, John Street, Penicuik are an independent foodbank and community hub who provide a range of services and aim to prevent poverty and hunger across Midlothian and surrounding areas. After taking into account the size of a family in need, they provide enough food for the family for 3 meals for 3 days on a weekly basis. The food they provide includes tins, fresh fruit and vegetables and whenever possible, fresh meat.

In addition they have a community fridge and table where surplus food that is about to go out of date is made available to the whole community. They also work alongside other organisations such as Children 1st and Health in Mind. They seek to support all people in need.

Since the onset of Covid, demand for FFF help has grown exponentially and the collection of sufficient surplus food from supermarkets is now a huge logistical challenge. To help with that they desperately need the flexibility of having their own transport. Ownership of their own van would avoid hire costs or reliance on the use of volunteer’s cars and enable them to pick up more food from shops to provide to people who are in need of assistance. It would also provide an asset which it is intended would be made available to other organisations.

FFF are now actively raising funds of £10,000 to purchase a van as their current hire contract expires at the end of September.

I do hope you can help them raise some of the necessary funds.