Volunteers at vital community resource in an area of Wishaw that provides food and other essentials to people struggling to make ends meet has been recognised in the Scottish Parliament.
Coltness Community Larder helped countless families and individuals since it launched just over three years ago but found it increasingly difficult to keep up with demand.
Launched by Coltness Community Council to help people in the area over the festive period in 2022, and operating from the Carrick Hall, it was realised that the larder was providing a vital part in helping people make ends meet.
The decision was made to continue with the larder and it soon found a new home, and daytime opening on a Friday morning, at the more central location of the church hall at St Mark’s Church in Coltness Road.
However, the community council announced on social media that the larder would close permanently on Friday, December 13.
The motion, from Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Clare Adamson, states: “that the Parliament acknowledges what it sees as the significant contribution of the Coltness Food Larder, which has provided vital support to families in the Coltness area for the last three years.
“It commends the dedication of the volunteers, staff and community partners who have worked tirelessly to provide food, essentials and a much-needed lifeline to individuals and families during difficult times; recognises the crucial role that food banks, like the Coltness Food Larder, have played in supporting families amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, which, it understands, has seen many struggle to afford basic necessities; understands the challenges that food banks face in maintaining resources, funding and volunteer support.
“It also expresses its gratitude for the community-led response to hunger and hardship, which it considers has helped alleviate some of the burden faced by vulnerable families; wishes to express its thanks to all those involved with the Coltness Food Larder; extends its best wishes for the future, and recognises what it sees as the important impact it has had on the Coltness community and on the lives that those involved have touched.”
Speaking following the decision to close the larder, volunteer Angela Kyle said: “It’s devastating that we’re having to do it.
“It’s been a very, very difficult decision. Financially we feel that we just can’t sustain it any longer.
“To be really honest, our larder is totally unique and the donations come from our community and it all goes back to the community.
“We do have great volunteers but one is in her nineties and another is disabled, so a major problem is that we don’t have fit, able-bodied volunteers to lug our crates about.
“We’ll be directing people to a host of different food banks in the area, but this was in the heart of the community. It will be a loss to a lot of people.”
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