A West Lothian charity is celebrating a decade of helping older people live independently at home.
The Food Train has been making daily life easier for the elderly since 2010, providing vital services to those who are no longer able to manage independently, through age, ill health, frailty or disability.
The charity’s volunteers make hundreds of grocery deliveries every week, ensuring those most in need have access to fresh groceries.
Teams of dedicated local volunteers also go that extra mile by helping with household jobs, delivering books through the charity’s library service and providing much needed friendly social contact and meals through Meal Makers and befriending services.
Helen Donnelly has been using the Food Train for five years.
She said: “Food Train staff and volunteers give me the most precious gift of all - their time.
“The services have allowed me to stay in my home – my independence is extremely important to me and Food Train has really helped me keep my independence.
“Everyone is so lovely and so helpful, always happy to help and are always there when I need them.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support of people like the Food Train team.”
The West Lothian branch has seen growth over the 10 years from providing just one service and with a single van to providing seven services, with five vans and a minibus.
Jenny White, regional manager, said: “We are delighted to continue to support older people in the area ensuring they eat well and live well.
“Our vital shopping service was in great demand during Covid-19 but we couldn’t provide any services without our dedicated team of volunteers.
“Thank you to the staff and volunteers – together we build resistant communities.”
The Food Train West Lothian provides its shopping service along with At Home, which sees volunteers carry out small household tasks.
It also provides library home deliveries/library friends, Meal Makers (meal sharing), Friends Service and Eat Well Buddy service.
For more information visit www.thefoodtrain.co.uk.
