UK Bill Help

The year 2013 marked the rebirth of the fabled food bank in Perth. Community outreach volunteers from churches and local organisations announced that they had raised the initial funding needed to convince Trussell Trust to expand into the county. The result was Perth & Kinross Foodbank.

While local citizens had historically turned to the church during lean times, the food bank marks a more formal approach to dealing with area hunger. Perth & Kinross Foodbank is managed much like any other successful charitable association, with substantial support from church groups.

Perth Action Churches Together (PACT) was the original driving force behind the creation of the food pantry. PACT had communicated the desire to collaborate on a joint project with Perth & Kinross Council. This initial meeting led to the partnership that courted Trussell Trust to help create the project. Council donated £1,500 towards the service. Scotrail Foundation gave an additional £1,000 grant to the cause, plus an extra £2,000 to partner Street Pastors Perth. This charity uses volunteers to serve the city through crime prevention and first aid. It is one of the leading referrers for vouchers due to frequent contact with homeless persons.

These same churches collaborate with local businesses, charities, council and individuals who provide donated food items to the effort. Government agencies, charities and even professionals provide the referrals so that needy clients can obtain food relief. Their vouchers are redeemed for the food they need to get through the next three days.

Each food parcel contains donated food items that provide necessary nutrition to a family. It can be especially important when a benefit payment or pay check is more than a couple of days off. Families can benefit from the donated food rather than borrowing money at high rates to get through until payday.

How to get help

A voucher must be presented to receive food parcels. No drop ins are allowed. This system ensures that each client is receiving proper care to improve their situation rather than to become dependent on a regular handout. Any aid organisation or professional providing care to a client may contact Perth & Kinross Foodbank in order to gain approval to issue vouchers.

Vouchers may be redeemed at one of the distribution centres established throughout the county:

• St Catharine’s Community Centre is located on George Street in Blairgowrie.
• The Logos Youth Centre operates a centre in Crieff. It is located on High Street.
• The Kinross-shire Day Centre distributes food at its High Street location in Kinross.
• The main distribution centre is located on 5 Back Wynd in Perth.
• Atholl Centre distributes food in Pitlochry.

All enquiries may be directed to the Perth distribution centre by calling 01738 626799. A volunteer can provide information on the process as well as to direct a caller to a proper aid organisation so that they may receive care and a referral voucher. Anyone already in possession of a voucher can find out what days and hours each location is open for parcel pickups.

Some citizens may be too proud to request help. However, food bank volunteers urge those in need to use the service to feed their families.