Fiona hosts public meeting to gather support for East Lothian food banks

 County MP Fiona O’Donnell is hosting a public meeting at The Town House in Haddington on Wednesday 6^th June to discuss the introduction of food banks in East Lothian.   

 

Having already met with representatives of local churches and the Trussell Trust to draw up plans for the county’s first food banks, Fiona is keen to ensure that there is wide public support for the project. 

 

Ewan Gurr, Scotland Development Officer of the Trussell Trust, will be present at the meeting to explain how the food banks will operate and what part local residents can play. The Trussell Trust opened its first food bank in the UK twelve years ago and it now opens 2 every week.  It is anticipated that the Trust will provide support and training to the proposed food banks in East Lothian, whilst volunteers will help organise collections and distribution.

 

Fiona O’Donnell said:

 

“I’ve already written to a number of local organisations to invite them to the meeting, but it’s a public meeting and I’d like to see as many people attend as possible.  This is a terrific opportunity to do something to help people in our own communities.

 

With pay freezes, redundancies and increased unemployment, we’re seeing more and more people across East Lothian struggling to cope with the rising costs of living and unable to put food on their tables. Food banks are a great way to help those in need – in every part of the county.”

 

The public meeting will be held at Haddington Town House on Wednesday 6^th June at 7.30pm.  To confirm attendance please contact Fiona O’Donnell MP’s constituency office on 01875 824779 or at fiona.odonnell.mp@parliament.uk.

 

Notes to Editor:

 

The Trussell Trust is a charitable organisation which works with churches and local communities to combat poverty and exclusion in the UK and Bulgaria.   Their vision is to build communities where people of all backgrounds are included and have the opportunity to live in dignity with hope for the future.

 

In 2011-12 food banks fed 128,687 people nationwide, 100% more than the previous year. Rising costs of food and fuel combined with static income, high unemployment and changes to benefits are causing more and more people to come to food banks for help.