Homelessness group Social Bite has started a free food delivery service as it bids to help the most needy during the Covid-19 emergency.
It comes after the social business was forced to close its cafes and catering outlets to comply with social distancing measures.
Social Bite says it has changed emphasis to meet the increased demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
It said: "In a nutshell our social enterprise cafes and our corporate catering business were forced to close during the outbreak, yet more people than ever need our help with many support services closing down.
“We responded to this crisis by re-purposing our kitchen, cafes and teams to create a free food delivery service - focusing on getting supplies out in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness.
“We are now producing and distributing 4,000 food and essentials packs every single day of the week and will continue to do so for the next three months, working with 50 partners throughout Scotland to ensure that these vital supplies can reach those worst affected.
“That includes children and the elderly, homeless people, families that were relying on free school meals, and those who have lost their source of income or source of food.”
It says donations will be crucial in helping those left destitute, adding: "We are seeking funding to compliment support we have already received from the Scottish Government to carry this service out nationwide and meet the demand - there is a waiting list of those in need and we need funding to scale up.
“For every £50,000 we raise it will directly fund the production and distribution of 22,000 food packs.
“We are also looking for bulk donations of non-perishable food and hygiene products to accompany our food parcels or help us continue production, from tins of soup to disposable gloves and masks.”
Social Bite was founded by Josh Littlejohn MBE and Alice Thompson in 2012.
Many of the management team are people who have at one stage been homeless.
Donations can be made through Social Bite’s Just Giving page here.
