Just last week, there was a talk in Portobello about food
poverty – it was described as ‘Our National Shame’. The speaker talked about
the number of people who’re having to resort to food banks – and the fact that
many of them are actually in work – but can’t afford to pay all of the
bills…and feed themselves as well. It’s a shocking indictment of our society –
especially when the organisation that refers most people to food banks is the
Department or Work and Pensions.
There is a food bank in the area – they prefer to call it a
‘Basics Bank’ because it offers more than just food…soap, razors, feminine
hygiene products are all part of the mix. It’s very much a community project –
Tower Bank Primary and Portobello High School are both involved as are local
churches, allotment groups and others.
It’s backed by the Edinburgh City
Mission and helped by a charity called the Cyrenians which supports the
homeless and vulnerable by running, amongst other things, a farm growing fruit
and vegetables.
The Basics Bank is based at Wilson Memorial Church at the foot
of Portobello Road. One of the volunteers, Patsy Cook, has been there from the
start nearly four years ago. So what was the driving force that got the group
started?
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