Fuel cards boost for lifeline Kirkcaldy charities

Two Kirkcaldy charities are being helped to deliver vital food supplies to the homes of the area’s most vulnerable residents thanks to ExxonMobil at Mossmorran.

Kirkcaldy Foodbank and the Cottage Family Centre have each received £500 worth of Esso fuel - giving them thousands of miles of deliveries to help cope with the huge rise in demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fuel will enable both charities to fill up the tanks of the vehicles used by their volunteers, who collect food donated by local supermarkets and members of the public and take them to delivery points or directly to homes in and around Kirkcaldy.

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/health/coronavirus/no-new-coronavirus-cases-fife-first-time-2850521

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/kirkcaldy-coronavirus-survivor-thanks-surgery-pharmacy-staff-who-saved-his-life-2849634

Jacob McAlister, plant manager for ExxonMobil, said: “With our fuel brand Esso we are proud to support the extraordinary work of both charities.

“Many of the most vulnerable in our communities are unable to leave home, so the ability to deliver to them is a vital service.”

Joyce Leggate, chairman of Kirkcaldy Foodbank, said: “Over the COVID-19 period we have struggled to maintain the stock levels we require due to difficulties particularly around the lack of delivery slots from suppliers.

“This means volunteers, some of whom are not employed, are spending most of the week driving around collecting food from various places using their own cars and fuel, which is admirable, but this generous donation of fuel cards from ExxonMobil will allow us to continue this activity for the foreseeable future and could not have come at a better time.”

Pauline Buchan, service manager at the Cottage Centre, added: “Demand for our help has more than doubled in recent weeks, particularly for our packed lunches for children.

“More families in the Kirkcaldy area are finding themselves with no source of income and in dire need of help with food and utility bills.

“With every spare penny going on these costs, fuel costs have been overlooked. These are always an additional expense for our staff and volunteers who deliver our services, so this donation is very welcome indeed.

“These cards will help keep our deliveries running for some time.”

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers; the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen, East Fife Mail and Glenrothes Gazette.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

The support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with your community during this time. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this, and your continued support of our newspapers across Fife will help to protect their viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press