A foodbank charity is keeping up to 50 people warm a day after opening its doors to those struggling to heat their homes.
Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels (OKFP) which also runs a cafe decided to step up after staff noticed people were hanging around longer to avoid going back to cold houses.
Now running Monday to Friday - and frequently full to the 50 seat capacity - OKFP Warm Hub offers a refuge from the cold at the foodbank’s base, handing out hot drinks, soups, snacks and blankets.
They also have board games and cards and they will play movies to encourage parents and children struggling over the school holidays to stay.
So moved by the effort and the demand, a generous couple offered to pay the group’s electricity bills for the rest of the year.
Maureen Cummings said local people are being “absolutely battered” by rising costs on top of poverty and social isolation.
She said: “We’re just a community group wanting to help the community.
“We’re all under the one roof, we’re all sharing the same heating and that can only be a good thing.
“Whilst people are in then they can help with volunteering, they can do some arts and crafts, they can read a paper, use their laptop and do some work.
“We just want it to be available for as long as it’s needed to whoever needs it.
“We put movies on to encourage people to stick around a wee bit longer.
“We’ll have movies in this week for the October week, just to help out families where they can spend a few hours enjoying a film.
“When you’ve got a few kids and it’s the holidays then I can’t imagine the stress parents could face.
“But we have a solution; families can come along, be fed and have fun.
“We know times are tough, but they don’t have to be miserable. We can have tough times but still have happiness.”
She told how she was left speechless after a couple offered to pay the charity’s electricity bills for the rest of the year.
The couple behind the generous act have asked to remain anonymous.
Maureen explained: “Last week a couple heard what we were doing. “They visited us and said that they wanted us to pass our electricity bills for October, November and December to them and they would take care of them.
“I was absolutely speechless.
“It was so generous.
“It felt like everything was aligning.
“We had started doing good by putting ourselves out there as a warm hub, getting blankets and hot water bottles in.
“As if by magic this couple were brought to us.
“I know we’re doing the right thing, and we’ll continue trying to reach out to people.”
With warmth centres springing up across the country, Maureen said that they highlight the strength of communities – but called on West Dunbartonshire Council to do more to showcase their availability.
She said: “We’re a wee bit behind.
“We’re waiting on the council to pass a policy or agreement. But whilst all that’s happening people are going cold and hungry.
“I want to be proactive and I’d encourage other groups to do that as well.
“In 2020 we were responding to the pandemic, and there was poverty all around us.
“In 2021 we were recovering from social exclusion and isolation.
“We had to reach out and help people with that.
“Now the label is the cost of living and energy crisis.
“People are being absolutely battered.
“I don’t have time to sit around thinking how terrible it is that such a wealthy country is facing these problems.
“I’m too busy being proactive.
“The power of a community helping each other is second to none in times of need.
“Everyone is rallying together. That’s the beauty.”
The OKFP Warm Hub is open Monday to Friday 12pm-4pm at the Station Road Industrial Estate.
The group are always happy to welcome new people, volunteers and donations.
Maureen added: “There are loads of ways you can help. We have family who need our service, but who also come in and help out so it doesn’t feel like a handout.
“Donations are crucial, so any donations of food, toiletries, warm blankets, pet food, or hot water bottles can all be dropped into us.”
