Community / Northmavine bus stop buckets offering free food for those in need
WITH the cost of living remaining high, some residents of Northmavine have started a ‘spare and share’ scheme offering free food in bus stops.
Buckets of non-perishable food have been placed at the bus stops at Valladale, Hillswick and the Hillswick/Ollaberry junction, and it may expand elsewhere in the area.
People can take what they need, and folk are encouraged to donate items.
One of those behind the scheme is Hillswick resident Susan Bowie.
“This just came from the feeling that we can’t bear the thought of people going hungry,” she said.
“Bus stops seemed a good way of ensuring privacy and also availability to folk without their own transport.
“I think NCDC [Northmavine Community Development Company] will have a food fridge operating at Bruckland soon but this is something that can be available 24 hours and happen informally and quickly.
“I hope that it’s something people can do throughout Shetland – at the moment we have the boxes at the bus stops at Valladale, the Hillswick junction and Hillswick, and hoping to have other places locally too.
“People should take what they need, and I would urge folk to contribute any non-perishable items they can. Maybe one or two treats as well as the staples.”
With people’s bills rising a number of initiatives offering free food have launched across Shetland in recent months.
These include the council-run St Ringan’s hub in Lerwick, and a larder-style community fridge in the entrance to Scalloway Health Centre.
A new foodbank scheme has also opened in the Nesting, Girlsta and Wadbister area.
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