Foodbank confirms move to new premises in Fife town

Kirkcaldy Foodbank has secured new premises in Burntisland after being asked to leave the town’s High Street in summer.

It will now be located in The Salvation Army hall at Lonsdale Crescent , and will be open every Tuesday and Friday from 12-2pm to support those in the community most in need.

Joyce Leggate, chairman said: “After more than two years at Solid Rock on the High Street we are moving to new premises.

"The new building is much bigger, and offers our clients a little bit more privacy and dignity than being on the High Street.

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"We have also had an excellent response to our appeal for volunteers with over 20 people offering their time to help some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”

The news of the foodbank’s move comes at the same time as the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) Scotland report.

The organisation connects, supports and advocates on behalf of a range of over 340 frontline food aid organisations including nearly 400 independent foodbanks across the United Kingdom.

The report reveals that after a sharp increase in need for emergency food parcels during April and May, independent foodbanks have continued to distribute more than twice as many parcels in June and July than during the same months in 2019.

There has been a 108% rise in the number of emergency food parcels distributed in July 2020 compared to same month last year, and 70 independent food banks across 20 local authorities in Scotland distributed at least 182,863 emergency food parcels between February and July 2020.

Joyce adds: “In Kirkcaldy, as in many other areas, we experienced a big increase in demand in April. The overall demand has reduced slightly but we are still seeing higher than pre-Covid levels of need for support from families.

"Families have found themselves relying on the benefit system for the first time in their lives which adds to their distress when attending a food bank.

"Households must be able to rely on a benefits system that is fit for purpose, and that enables them to feed their families rather than having to turn to food banks.”

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