Due to a shortage of food donations and low volunteer numbers a Hamilton Foodbank had to close its doors in March.
Saddened by the news, five Scottish Gas engineers stepped up and have kept the foodbank afloat by lending a hand to provide food parcels to those most in need amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Hamilton-based Chris Emmerson and his colleagues, Karim Awadia, Paul McNally, Julie Dickson and Kenny McNally have raised more than £500 worth of food donations to help support vulnerable families and the elderly in the community.
The team of engineers have volunteered their time and vehicles to pick up donations from doorsteps and deliver food parcels to those who need it most across the Hamilton area.
The engineers’ work comes as Scottish Gas announced a new partnership with the Trussell Trust – which runs the Hamilton Foodbank – that will see Scottish Gas team members, and their British Gas colleagues, volunteer their support nationwide.
A spokesperson for the Hamilton Foodbank said: “As you can imagine, demand has been high since the coronavirus outbreak began, and we’ve been struggling with donations and volunteers. A lot of our support comes from elderly residents who are currently self-isolating.
“We are so grateful for the support the engineers have selflessly given us and for the numerous donations they continue to collect and deliver to those who need them most in our community.”
