Council Staff Swap Secret Santa For Highland Foodbank Donations

5th December 2018

Welfare staff within Highland Council's UK Award winning Benefits and Welfare Reform Team have decided to forego their office Secret Santa tradition and instead donate to Blythswood's Highland Foodbank this Christmas.

Sheila McKandie, Highland Council's Benefits and Welfare Manager explained:"On a daily basis we work with the dedicated team at Blythswood Highland Foodbank directing people to them who are in urgent need. At this time of year when some offices are signing up for Secret Santa gifting we decided that rather than buying each presents we would rather spend the equivalent amount of money on buying vital and necessary food for those most in need.

"We have all filled shopping bags with non-perishable food items and these are being delivered to the Highland Food Bank. For as long as food banks are required, we hope to make such donations regularly."

To find out more about the Highland Foodbank visit Blythswood’s website at: https://www.blythswood.org/highland-foodbank

The Council’s Welfare staff support the most vulnerable individuals and families in the Highlands to maximise their incomes by legitimately claiming all benefits and entitlements they are eligible to receive. The Welfare Team can be contacted on Freephone 0800 090 140.

On an almost daily basis the team provides clients with vouchers to access local foodbanks and also distribute Blythswood food parcels which are held by the team in local Council offices. The team has first-hand experience of reducing poverty in Highland and have a grass roots understanding of the lifeline that the food bank provides for so many residents. For some, the foodbank is used as a last resort having exhausted all other sources of support for residents, many of whom have complex needs. Demand for food increases during the winter months and Blythswood depend on increased donations during this time.

Lorna Dempster, Highland Foodbank Co-ordinator for Inverness and Nairn said "Highland Foodbank is so grateful to the Welfare Team for the extremely kind donations of food this Christmas."

To donate visit: https://www.blythswood.org/highland-foodbank

PHOTO

(left to right) Welfare Officers Alison Nicolson and Liz Duff deliver food parcels to Lorna Dempster Highland Food Bank Coordinator