A Stirling city free food project is to close its doors in a blow for the local community.
Transition Stirling this week announced its Community Food Project would end next month.
The organisation, in partnership with the Kitchen at 44, established Stirling Community Food back in March
2020.
Based in Wellgreen Lane in the city centre, the project helps to reduce food waste, collecting excess food from local supermarkets and offering it to members of the community for free.
Announcing the decision, Transition Stirling did not elaborate on the reasons behind the decision, but said: “It is with heavy hearts that we are letting you know about the closure of the free aspect of the Community Food Project.
“After careful consideration over the last few months by our board, it was agreed that the free section of the Stirling Community Food is no longer sustainable. Despite all our best efforts, the Free Food project, at 5 Wellgreen Lane, Stirling, will close permanently at 12pm on 7 December 2024.
“It’s been amazing to see the project transform from its beginnings in partnership with the Kitchen at 44 back in March 2020.
“In that time, we’ve helped on average 80 people a day, four days a week, for our local Stirling communities and helped divert 740 tonnes of food waste from landfill.
“We were delighted to add The Pantry to the fold in the last few years and hope to be able to continue it at new premises – but this is to be confirmed – we’ll let you know as soon as we have more information to share.
“Other Wellgreen projects including the Tool Library, ReBoot and events will continue to run from our other sites at the ReUse Hub and Reclaimers.
“We appreciate this is not just a significant loss to the Transition Stirling team and volunteers, but to the Stirlingshire community. Alternative support for those seeking help with food is available at Start Up Stirling. Welfare advice is also available from Citizens Advice and Stirling.”
One visitor to the Community Food Project, Linda McCallum, told the Observer: “I understand that they are to close their doors next month.
“This will be a great loss, as many people use it, and it significantly reduces food waste.”
Some reports suggest some volunteers are hoping to work with a local businessman to ensure a one off distribution of surplus food on Christmas Eve from the hub.
Start Up Stirling, the charity which operates Stirling’s main foodbank, said they were “saddened” to hear of the closure of Stirling Community Food, adding: “Unlike Transition Stirling, Start Up Stirling are available for crisis food support on a referral only basis. Information on how to be referred is available on our website – https://startupstirling.org.uk/help.”