PICTURES: Hamper drive delivers joy of the season in communities across Easter Ross and north Sutherland
A COMMUNITY drive to bring the joy of the festive season to those who may feel more isolated at this time of year is set to deliver around £5000 worth of goodies across Easter Ross.
The Rotary Club of Tain and Easter Ross has been collecting tinned and packet foodstuffs and non-alcoholic drinks donated by members and friends since 2010 to create hampers for distribution to a range of single person, pensioner and family households across the local community in time for Christmas.
The club stepped up its efforts last year in recognition of the negative impact of Covid and in recognition of the fact that, while Christmas is a wonderful time for many, it can be tough for those alone or struggling financially.
People were able to donate dried or tinned foodstuffs via a number of drop-off points organised in Alness, Balintore, Invergordon and Tain. Children in some primary schools held collections of foodstuffs and several local businesses and supermarkets also chipped in donations of cash or goods.
That effort was stepped up this year with 64 hampers comprising six large family hampers – the largest of which is going to a recently bereaved family – and a number suitable for pensioners, single people and couples. There is even a number of gluten-free hampers.
The equivalent of seven hampers worth of “leftovers” was gathered for the new Edderton larder and five boxes of toiletries were shared among the two food banks and Home Start East Highland.
Spokesman Chris Grant said an additional 100 selection boxes were gathered, two-thirds of which went to Home Start East Highland.
The Kyle of Sutherland Trust was also invited on spending spree visits to Tesco, Lidl and ASDA in Tain with items destined for households in the Ardgay area.
The Cromarty Firth area is also being included.
Mr Grant reckons that the total value of goods provided will be around £5000 by the time all is accounted for. He said volunteers were delighted to help.
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