Eildon staff get behind new community distribution food hub

As part of the wider community efforts to support households that may be struggling at this time, Eildon Housing Association and Scottish Borders Council have linked up with the homelessness charity Cyrenians, which acts as the FareShare franchise for Central and South East Scotland, to collectively distribute much needed food supplies to food banks in the Scottish Borders. 

The new distribution hub supports the excellent work already being undertaken by local organisations, such as food banks and resilience groups, who are feeling the strain in the current climate.  

The creation of the hub has involved many Eildon staff taking on additional new roles to help with the response.  Kirsty Rodger, Corporate Services Manager at Eildon is now in charge of co-ordinating the food hub, and she is supported in this role by Maintenance Officers Colin Playfair, Brian Learmonth and Davie Forster, Business Assurance Analyst Geoff Hope and Administrative Assistant Irina Juodeike.   

Kirsty Rodger said: “Rural communities can often struggle to access support resources, however, over the past fortnight since opening, we have picked up and distributed nine van loads of food to localities across the region.  

“While donations from the public and local supermarkets are generous, food banks struggle to meet demand, and this is made much harder for communities that are isolated from major towns and distribution links.  

“In the first two weeks’ of operation, the Eildon team have shifted literally tonnes of food and covered over 700 miles. We realise this is just scratching the surface, but it is encouraging to know we are playing a key part in helping to get much needed support to households across the Borders.”   

If you are a charity or organisation that already distributes food to households in need, and feel you could benefit from linking in with this service, please contact: foodhub@eildon.org.uk