Edinburgh foodbank distribution centre open for business donations all weekend

First goods arrive at Gogarburn

ROYAL Bank of Scotland volunteers will be staffing the foodbank distribution centre set up at their Gogarburn headquarters all weekend so businesses can deliver donations.The bank is using its conference centre to collect non-perishable foods and hygiene products to pass on to food poverty charities the Trussell Trust and Social Bite who are helping to ensure some of the most vulnerable people do not go without essentials during the coronavirus crisis.The Evening News and The Scotsman are backing the initiative.The first donations made yesterday included tinned foods, cereal bars, crisps and Tunnocks teacakes.One of the earliest contributions came from RBS’s own catering contractors.Neil Bird, operations director at BaxterStorey, said: “We are delighted to be supporting RBS as they provide much needed support to some of our region’s most vulnerable people. “We have donated cold beverages, bottles of water and snack items that would have otherwise been sitting in vending machines.”Douglas Bain, facilities manager at RBS, said staff were enthusiastic about the temporary foodbank distribution centre and had eagerly volunteered to help.He said: “We’ve got a list of phone numbers over the weekend. If we start to get more donations being delivered we can get people out to help and if it gets really busy we’ll start a rota.“We’re conscious it’s got to be done in a safe way so we’re keeping everyone socially distanced from each other. We’ve got gloves and aprons and lots of gel and some masks.”RBS hopes businesses with stocks of food which are now not being used as workplaces close due to the crisis will consider donating them.However, donations from the public cannot be accepted at Gogarburn because of social distancing rules.

Companies wishing to donate can contact Mr Bain at [email protected].

Donations can be made to the Trussell Trust here: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/.

And Social Bite has a JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joshua-littlejohn