A food bank project created by Eildon Housing Association to address the impact of COVID-19 has been supported by us throughout the duration of the pandemic
Eildon Community FoodHub
Eildon Community FoodHub, which was set up in March 2020 to ensure the most vulnerable people across the Scottish Borders had access to essential food and household items, has been making deliveries with the help of Eildon volunteers and transport and drivers provided by us.
Since the project’s creation, a bus from our fleet and our drivers have helped Eildon make collections from locations across Edinburgh and deliver them to community groups all over the Scottish Borders.
The Housing Association partnered with Edinburgh charities Cyrenians and FareShare to redistribute donations across the Borders to address the heightened need for access to food as a result of the pandemic and the rural location of communities in the Borders.
Since March 2020 it is estimated that the Eildon FoodHub project has collected and distributed 158 tonnes of food and household items across the region to those in need. Items donated to local communities include long-life food parcels, toiletries, clothes and book donations.
The donations have helped support 32 groups across the region including:
- Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber
- Selkirk Early Years Centre
- Eyemouth Food Larder and Food Bank
- Walkerburn Food HUGS
Councillor Robin Tatler, Executive Member for Community Development and Localities
“The Eildon FoodHub has proved to be an extremely worthwhile local project that has provided a vital lifeline to some of the most vulnerable people across the Borders at an especially difficult time.
“By donating Council time and resources to the project, we have been able to help increase the volume of supplies they are able to distribute across the region and ultimately help more people.
“During exceptional times like these, the project has proved to be a prime example of organisations coming together at a difficult time to work in partnership to support the local community.
Nile Istephan, Chief Executive of Eildon Housing Association
“This project has been fantastic at bringing like-minded organisations together for the greater good of the Borders.
“The past year has been a very difficult time and the Food Hub has helped so many people and animals.
“We’re all very proud of the achievements made so far and are looking forward to being able to continue the vital ongoing support through our new Hub based at our Head Quarters in Selkirk, which should be finished late summer.”