The hugely successful Give and Take boxes (GoT) in the North Inch and Muirton area of Perth will no longer be stocked with food.
A collaboration between North Inch and Muirton Community Council and Zero Waste Perth, the boxes were placed in several locations across the local area at the start of the lockdown.
Residents were invited to contribute what they could in terms of non-perishables to fellow residents who are at-risk and in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The initiative also prompted a special Easter egg box and inspired other communities across the region, as well as attracting global interest.
But with the nation moving into stage one of the route map out of lockdown, it has been decided the boxes have served their purpose.
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North Inch and Muirton Community Council has vowed to find a new use for the boxes.
In an email to fellow community councillors secretary Grace Sharkey said: “It’s with mixed feelings that I’m emailing you to advise that, after nine weeks of operation, we’ll no longer be sourcing and putting food and other items in the GoT boxes.
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“This is being done after a review of their role at a time when the Scottish Government has announced the start of the country’s transition from lockdown.
“As you know, the rationale of deploying GoT boxes was to enable the community to support the less able to directly access food during strict lockdown. We achieved that.
“We’ll again be asking the community, via Facebook and Twitter, for suggestions as to how we can otherwise use the boxes in their current or perhaps new locations.”
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Grace said the group would continue with the neighbourhood cookbook project which has raised funds for the Corra Foundation.
She also thanks all stakeholders who helped during the operation, as well as the volunteers who “were always happy to pitch in”.
She added: “Despite the last few months being at times frightening and scary and worrisome for all, I think I’ll mostly remember this period as a time when we all worked to help our community.
“And the new people we met while doing that and the way we learned from that experience - and the laughter we shared.”
