Leading Physical Trainer (LPT) Will Callen of HMS Neptune, the shore establishment at HM Naval Base Clyde, delivered a truck load of food to Helensburgh and Lomond Foodbank on Monday 5th December.
When LPT Callen heard that so many people were struggling locally, with around 40 families in the Helensburgh area needing to use the services of the foodbank, he decided he wanted to do something to help.
“I felt it was important that all of us at the Naval Base, who have so much, should do something to help those with so little,” said LPT Callen.
“As well as asking people to contribute tins and packets of food, I wanted to raise awareness of the Foodbank and emphasize that this is not just a problem at Christmas, that there is an ongoing need for help and support.”
After contacting the foodbank organisers who were delighted to accept his offer to help by organising a food drive within HM Naval Base Clyde, he set about enlisting the help of staff throughout the base.
He spread the word about the initiative, putting posters up throughout the base and placing adverts in base publications, asking people to put a few extra items in their trollies and bring them along to a collection point at the Sportsdrome.
There was a good response from personnel on the base with quite a few departments organising their own collection points and delivering boxes of food along to the Sportsdrome.
When they ran out of space in the Sportsdrome, LPT Callen arranged to deliver the donations to the foodbank. On Monday 5th December he took the contributions from base personnel to the food store at Churchill Estate.
Vice- Chair of the Helensburgh and Lomond Foodbank, Mary McGinley and her sister Kathleen were working at the food store and were delighted to receive the substantial contribution from base staff.
There are still donations arriving at the Sportsdrome and LPT Callen will ensure they are delivered to the foodbank in time for Christmas.
However anyone who would like to donate directly can take their contributions along to the British Red Cross Hall at 116 East Princes Street. There are also donation bins in the Co-Operative supermarket and at local churches.
The foodbank is open on Mondays and Fridays, 10am to 12 noon, at the Red Cross Hall. It is set up almost like a coffee shop, and people can come in for a cup of tea and chat, before collecting their food parcel.
For those interested in helping or for further information, please email: [email protected]
