Supermarket staff serve up vital help to those in need in Renfrewshire

Workers at the Morrisons store in Johnstone helped to organise 60 bags containing a mixture of food essentials, such as fruit, pasta and breakfast cereals, as well as toiletries, for vulnerable people.

These were then handed to Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron, who had contacted the store’s community champion Julie Scott to ask if it could provide support to families in need.

Yvonne Frame, people manager at the Johnstone store, told The Gazette: “So many people have been struggling during the lockdown, so it is good for us to be able to reach out to those who need the most help and support them in any way we can.

“We had a number of colleagues give up their own time to support Julie in making up the packages. Our thanks go to Bev Meldrum, Morag Ferguson, Diane Maxwell, Gillian Queen and Michele Rose.”

Provost Cameron described the way local communities and businesses have rallied round to support those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic as “really remarkable.”

She said: “I’m really grateful to Morrisons for their support. The packages have been distributed to the RSA Community Fridge and Cabinet in Moss Street, Paisley, and to individual families and will go a long way to help those in the community who are struggling at this time.”

Meanwhile, shoppers at the Morrisons store in Erskine took part in a raffle to raise hundreds of pounds for a local veterans’ charity which has recently been hit by suspected Covid-19 fatalities.

Customers raised more than £500 by snapping up tickets for the raffle, with all proceeds going to The Erskine Home, in Bishopton, to mark Armed Forces Day.
Shiree Singh Syan was the lucky winner of the raffle and received a hamper filled with treats.

Lucky winner Shiree Singh Syan (left) collects her raffle prize from Elspeth Roxburgh

Elspeth Roxburgh, community champion at the Erskine store, said: “The raffle went really well and the customers thought it was a great thing to take part in.

“Shiree was delighted with her prize and Erskine Home were over the moon to receive our donation.

“A lot of the people at the care home have fought for our country and we always want to give back to the community.”

Sara Bannerman, head of fundraising and communications at The Erskine Home, added: “We would like to thank the team at Morrisons and all their customers for this generous donation.

“Kindness and support such as this helps us to keep our veterans and their spouses safe, happy and well.

“This is very much appreciated.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

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