The Community Foodbank

Skye and Lochalsh

The Community Foodbank – Skye and Lochalsh is an independent voluntary organisation. The demand for food has increased over the years. We are run entirely by volunteers with each having a specific part to play.

Food is collected from several drop-off points in Skye and stored in a local church. We have collection points in Uig, Waternish, Staffin, our local Co-operative, and the health food shop in Portree. We collect food donations from local churches and other points in more outlying communities.

24  June 2025 Update

We hear from time to time statements such as:-

I was worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more.

The food we got wasn’t sufficient and we don’t have money to get more.

I feel my children have little compared to others.

These statements are concerns people have on accessing food because they don’t have the financial resources. Without financial means people cannot support their families. Economic opportunities and social support at present are a political hot potato. It is a commonly talked about topic where arguments are heatedly discussed. While we have no desire to spend a great deal of time here debating it, it is worth pointing out it is easier to talk from a position of strength than in a position of weakness, where one has to come with a statement like above. IT IS NOT EASY TO COME SEEKING HELP.

Foodbanks really are a charitable response to food poverty and we should look at it as a privilege to give.  On the other hand the recipients often look at the gift as a humiliating but necessary act.

As governments discuss welfare reform let us make it a matter of prayer that the weak in our community will be looked after. Life will always have people who abuse systems but it is important that changes do not affect those most in need.

We have these words in Deuteronomy 15 V 7- “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother”.

Charity honours God and a person who helps the needy does God’s will as well as God’s work. God will repay those who are kind ,be it in giving or their time, not necessarily with earthly wealth, but in spiritual blessing. When Jesus was speaking about the final judgement, and those who provided for the poor, he said “ Truly, I say to you, as you did to one of the least of these my brothers, you did to me”.

The Foodbank recently held it’s AGM. Our year running from April 2024 to April 2025. Here is a brief summary of its findings:

• Our previous year had shown a considerable loss but having taken reluctant but necessary action we are once again on a sound financial footing and projection going forward. We cut back considerably on Christmas donations and encouraged regular users to restrict requests to fortnightly unless in an emergency. These were tough but necessary steps at the time.
• We continue to be supported locally by both individuals, businesses and organisations. The year saw large financial donations from Armadale Stores, Highland Games Committee, Skye Live, Muirhall Energy, Howdens, Dunvegan DCF, Colin Weir Foundation, Cafe Cuil, Shepherds Way Free Church, Church of Scotland Portree and a donation from the funeral of the late Mary Cameron. Mary was an elder of our church, one of the longest serving Foodbank volunteers and a very much missed friend.
• Of note is the reduction in food donations, however. The coop box in particular is noticed as many now do their shopping via Tesco or Morrison vans.  The cost of food and rise in other costs has also had an impact on peoples’ ability to give. We would remind people that we still have a giving box just inside our church doors.
• Over the past 12  months the demand for food bags in the North End (Portree) has been roughly the same while the demand in the South End (Broadford) has notably dropped. Due to rising living costs, fuel prices and ongoing pressure on household incomes we cannot see anything other than an increase in need going forward.
• The following is an illustration of bags given out over the last number of years.

2016-383

2017-358

2018-723

2019-1076

2020-3406

2021 –2766

2022-2890

2023-2337

2024-1822

The impact of the pandemic is evident. We can also see last year, despite restricting bags to regular users we are still showing a big increase compared to pre-pandemic.

We would like to thank you for your support and together we will continue to show what is possible when a community stands together with compassion and determination.

We do pray for those who are bound by what restricts them or damages them in life; be it addiction, ill health in body, mind or spirit, food shortage, poverty. We pray that in you, Lord, they may find the answer and help to enable them to flourish. Amen.

Roddy and Mogie

Foodbank Trustees.