A woman has launched a new service in West Lothian to provide struggling families living in poverty with a Sunday dinner.
West Lothian Sunday Dinner Boxes was started by a local woman, Anne Wilson, from Winchburgh after she discovered a similar initiative in East Lothian.
Anne is a wife and mother to three children and works full-time but now wants to help families in need from West Lothian.
She said: “There are so many families struggling these days. I would like to support as many families in need with a fresh Sunday dinner. They will receive fresh goods to cook themselves a Sunday roast dinner. In the boxes will be a chicken, vegetables, potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, gravy granules and a desert.
“My memories of growing up was my mum and dad always cooking a Sunday roast and us all sitting together talking and laughing - such a warm feeling.”
Right now Anne is taking in referrals from the general public but is keen to work alongside third sector partners and social work to identify people needing help.
The idea started last year when Jane Russell from East Lothian decided to help families in her area and was quickly swamped with requests for help from across the Lothians and Edinburgh, and even one from America.
Jane was struggling to cope with the demand but thankfully others, like Anne Wilson, came aboard and started projects in their own area.
In West Lothian Anne started deliveries on January 11 and they have already given out 21 Sunday dinners to families struggling to get by. For the next two weeks they have another 40 requests for help but they need help to cover the costs.
Anne said: “To keep this going we need to raise as much funding as possible as it costs £9 per box to feed a family. All boxes are paid for purely by donations so every penny helps.
“The requests I have had for families requiring a fresh box has been overwhelming. Please help me to keep this project going.”
West Lothian Sunday Dinner Boxes can be found on Facebook and anyone looking to donate can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/west-lothian-fresh-sunday-dinners
