Netherholm’s food hub feeds the community

A Castlemilk food hub has excelled in its task of keeping one community fed on healthy food during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Netherholm Community Food Hub has fulfilled a vital role thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers whose healthy food packages have kept Netherholm residents going throughout the pandemic.

Netherholm Area Association – which is affiliated to Thenue Housing –  swung into action at the start of the pandemic and was soon working in partnership with the food hub in handing out its much-needed food packages.

It has been a lifeline to vulnerable, isolated and older people who may be shielding and also to families whose lives have been turned upside down due to the health emergency – in many cases, resulting in a loss of income.

There has been a firm emphasis on creating healthy packages of food and minimising food waste and the hub has forged a close working relationship with chairty FareShare which exists to redistribute surplus food to charities.

The hub is located within the Netherholm Community Hall, which, itself, was a triumph of community endeavour. Working together with Thenue and the area association, local people saw their 20-year-long dream of a community hall realised when it opened its doors. In August, it will celebrate its second birthday.

There have also been donations of food from supermarkets and local businesses, who, along with FareShare, have been described by the food hub as “magnificent".

Volunteers have been a crucial component of the delivery system – without whom the operation could not function.

At the height of the pandemic the hub was issuing its food packages to 202 families every week. This has now fallen to 83 each week as restrictions have eased.

Nikk McCurdy, of Netherholm Area Association – who is also a board member of Thenue Housing, said: “It, truly, has been a remarkable effort by this community which faced a huge emergency, the like of which none of us have ever experienced before.

“The dedication and hard work of the many volunteers has been magnificent as have FareShare and the supermarkets and other businesses who have helped us. We could not have done it without them.

“We also want to thank our funders which are Thenue Housing, Thenue Communities, STV Children’s Appeal, the Scottish Government along with money from private donations.”

Glasgow City Council, like all Scottish local authorities, has been playing its part in combating the pandemic.

Councillor Margaret Morgan who represents the Linn ward, which includes Netherholm, visited the hub and was impressed by the efficiency of the project and commitment of local people to make a difference.

She said: “This has been an outstanding achievement by the whole community, and I was deeply impressed by what I saw on my visit. It has been a vital lifeline during the past very difficult months.”

Pictued: Councillor Morgan (far left) with volunteers at the Hub holding cans of Heinz beans. Beans were the very first food donation the hub received as it started its work and were donated by Thenue.