Article Source: Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 17 February 2015 11:10
Councillor Macmillan joined other volunteers from The Renfrewshire Food Train for a morning to shop and deliver groceries for local older people.
For a £1 annual membership fee, local over-65s can join the Food Train scheme. Food Train volunteers will contact them by phone or in person to check their shopping needs, do the shopping, deliver it to their home, unpack it and put it away.
Scheme members pay for the cost of the shopping and a £3 charge for each delivery to contribute to the cost of the scheme.
The Food Train launched its Renfrewshire scheme in October 2013 with the aim of helping older people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
Since then, 45 local volunteers have donated 5,753 hours of their time to the charity, making 3,582 home deliveries to 148 local people who have signed up for the scheme.
Councillor Macmillan said: “Renfrewshire Council has supported The Food Train since its launch. It was great to have the opportunity today to lend a hand and see personally the valuable work that they are doing.
“Voluntary organisations like The Food Train are delivering services that make a real difference every day to the lives of Renfrewshire people and we should all support them.
“I would encourage anyone who has a few hours to spare to think about volunteering. There are organisations across Renfrewshire who will welcome your help. And you get a great feeling of satisfaction from helping others.”
Renfrewshire Food Train regional manager Marri Welsh, said: ‘We were delighted to have Councillor Macmillan out in the delivery van with us. The Food Train relies on this kind of volunteering to make the service work.
“As well as doing the shopping for our members, our volunteers provide valuable social contact for many older people. In some cases they are the only people they see from one week to the next.
“If a volunteer thinks that one of our members needs help, we can be the first contact with doctors or other local services.
“The benefits our volunteers provide go beyond just delivering our members’ shopping.”
One of the customers on Councillor Macmillan’s delivery list was Brediland resident Rena Murphy. Rena signed up for the Food Train in November.
“I contacted the Food Train in when I had an injury to my knee and it was costing me a lot of money in taxi fares just to do my shopping.
“I’m fine now, but I still use the Food Train regularly because it is such a good service.
“I’ve recommended it to many of my friends and I’m sure there are many other older people in Renfrewshire who would benefit from getting in touch with them.”
Anyone interested in signing up or volunteering for the Renfrewshire Food Train should phone the charity on 0141 887 2557 or email renfrewshire@thefoodtrain.co.uk
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