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Monday 20 Jul 2020

Glasgow Central provides platform for food bank collection

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Glasgow Central is working with train stations across the country to launch a new pilot project to host pop-up food bank collection points for the Trussell Trust.

Beginning this Thursday (July 23), Glasgow Central, Bedford and Brighton stations will be hosting the Railway Food Collection scheme with passengers and staff being encouraged to contribute if they can.

At Central, volunteers will be staffing a collection site on the concourse from 07:00 to 18:00. Collections will take place every Thursday from July 23 until August 20.

The Trussell Trust helps to operate a UK-wide network of over 1,200 food banks, including many in the greater Glasgow area.

The food banks need a wide range of foods, with the following items particularly welcome:

• Tinned vegetables
• Tinned meat
• Tinned fruit
• Cereal
• Packet mashed potatoes
• Rice / pasta
• UHT milk
• Rice puddings

Station staff and the food bank volunteers will be observing social distancing while carrying out the collection.

Extra steps have been taken to help passengers donate safely through socially distanced drop offs and by ensuring volunteers have personal protective equipment.

Drew Burns, Network Rail station manager for Central, said: “The pandemic has been a uniquely challenging time for everyone in our communities, but particularly for those who were already among the most vulnerable groups in society.

“Passengers and staff at Central always show themselves to be generous and community-spirited when we host charities in the station and we’re sure they’ll be quick to respond to this appeal.

“Even a small donation will be gratefully received and well used supporting the more vulnerable members of our community.”