‘Crazy’ demand for charity help due to increased poverty during coronavirus pandemic as Inverness-based Food For Families aims to feed needy households through to the end of January
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Unprecedented high levels of poverty are seeing huge demand for support an Inverness charity has said.
Food For Families is swinging into action to feed needy households through to the end of January.
Businessman David Sutherland, who founded the charity a decade ago with wife Anne, said:”We’re being inundated with referrals from social workers and school teachers at an almost crazy level.
“Coronavirus has hit household incomes and many parents have significantly greater money worries than last Christmas. The evidence we’re seeing is that poverty levels are dire, which is tragic in this day and age.
“I’d hoped that the need for Food For Families would have reduced – but the opposite is now the case as far as hardship goes.”
Codi Strachan, a support worker at the Gateway charity, has been seconded to Food For Families to deliver ready-cooked meals to schools and homes.
“I’ve been rushed off my feet and we’re flat to the boards as far as supplying ready to heat food is concerned,” she said.
“It shows how valuable a voluntary service Food For Families is providing for our community.”
Professional cookery students and staff at Inverness College UHI are also supporting the project for a fourth year.
Students are set to produce 240 portions of macaroni cheese, winter stew and potatoes, and chicken curry and rice for distribution to those in need.
Nicola MacDonald, head of business, computing and hospitality at the college said: “This pandemic has had a devastating impact on so many families and we know food poverty has increased across the country.
“We support this project every year, but we were more determined than ever to do what we could this year to support local families in need.”
