Why we're supporting the
West Lothian Foodbank!
In the world of removals and storage, our days are typically filled with boxes, trucks and logistical puzzles. However, as a company deeply routed in our local community, we believe that our responsibilities extend far beyond the realms of moving and storing. Recently, we had the privilege of taking a break from our usual routine to embark on a different type of moving adventure that reminded us of the true essence of community and compassion.
Join us as we share the moving story of our visit to the West Lothian Foodbank, where we not only setup a monthly standing order, but also discovered the incredible impact that a small act of kindness can have on the lives of those in need. This is a tale set in some of the darkest times in the history of the United Kingdom, a tale of giving back, of nourishing bodies and minds, and finding purpose beyond our everyday endeavours.
About West Lothian Foodbank
The West Lothian Foodbank originally started back in 2012 by Whitburn Pentecostal Church. They quickly converted the old public toilets in Whitburn into a small warehouse and office. Over the past 10 years they have grown dramatically, partnering with other churches to open distribution centres all over West Lothian.
As of 2023, the West Lothian foodbank now have 20 paid staff, over 150 volunteers, 7 distribution centres, a warehouse and a charity shop which helps provide funds to pay for the premises and staff. Their main office and warehouse is based at 36a Inchmuir Road, Whitehill Industrial Estate, Bathgate, EH48 2EP
Visiting West Lothian Foodbank
Since Covid-19 hit nationwide, the West Lothian foodbank has been busier than ever. The cost of living has risen to an almost unmanageable level, with many families struggling to put food on the table. Families, that before the pandemic had never anticipated having to use a foodbank, are now being pushed to breaking point. That’s where places like the West Lothian foodbank come into play.
Funded almost solely by donations from the general public, just last month in September 2023, the West Lothian foodbank shipped out almost 10 tons of food to homes across West Lothian. A staggering figure indeed. One that makes you wonder if there is more we can do as a community? Although large supermarkets do donate, the items they do donate usually have a very short shelf life. So the more you can donate personally, the better stocked the foodbank will be.
Building for the Future
Thanks to some hard work and dedication from the team, in particular Stephen Turnbull, they’ve managed to obtain several government grants for the development of the foodbank. From this funding they’ve managed to create several vegetable patches along side a large poly tunnel to grow fruit. Everything grown on the grounds goes directly into the food parcels that get sent out. You don’t get much fresher than that!
Proudly displayed on the wall, inside their very cosy log cabin, are a set of pictures that show the progress they’ve made over the years. A truly remarkable achievement that’s only been made possible thanks to the numerous volunteers from all over West Lothian.
It's not just food they provide...
What was really inspirational to hear about was the added extras on offer for those in food poverty. Not only do they provide example meals that be created from the food found in the packs, they also offer things like money advice. This can be the key factor in helping someone to be able to budget correctly, and as a result, hopefully get themselves out of food poverty. In several cases this was the only thing restricting families from being able to escape the cycle of takeaways and no money. Once they had the knowledge they could actually thrive and not have to rely on foodbanks to keep their family fed.
With all this information on hand, we wondered how we, a removal company, could help? The first option was simple, we setup a monthly standing order for the foodbank, so each month we’ll send them some cash to keep things on track.
The second thing we could help them with was bags! We invested years ago in several thousand bags for life with our logo on them. We’re not even half way through using them yet, so what better way to put them to use than at the foodbank!
Lastly, inspired by the foodbank’s vision of providing both food and knowledge, we have offered our services to help train their delivery teams. One of the additional services the foodbank offers is furniture from their charity shop in Armadale. As such they’ve not felt 100% comfortable when delivering sofas and furniture out to homes in West Lothian. So along with some basic guidance we’ll also be sharing our training videos to help educate the team in how to lift and move correctly.
A huge thanks once again for the team at the West Lothian foodbank for sharing what they do us with us. Although foodbanks should never be a necessity, without getting into politics, for as long as there is a need for foodbanks in West Lothian, Purdie Worldwide will continue to support and fund them where we can!
West Lothian Foodbank Locations & Times:
Anyone who comes to the foodbank for emergency food has to have a E-referral, if you need help please call the Advice Shop on 01506 283000 or Citizens Advice on 01506 432977. For more information, check out the following page on Foodbank vouchers.
