Dunbar Families & Businesses delighted by Food Project - 29th Jan 2015

The benefits of Community Windpower’s food hamper project in Dunbar have continued well into the New Year. By working with BeGreen and the Ridge, Community Windpower have delivered a ‘win-win’ project as both local businesses and local families in need have benefited.

At Christmas, Community Windpower donated £10,000 for Christmas hampers for families and individuals struggling on benefits in Dunbar and surrounding villages. 114 hampers containing essential store-cupboard items and gift vouchers for local food retailers, were prepared and delivered.

When the Hampers were received, there was an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from all those who were helped, with everyone expressing their thanks and gratitude as this meant they could really celebrate Christmas.

Not all the hampers and vouchers were distributed at Christmas, so the remaining few were gifted to the Dunbar Basics Food Bank and remaining funds used for a Pensioners Lunch at Lammermuir House and a Pensioners Lunch at Dunbar Day Centre.

The gift vouchers enabled families to purchase essential groceries from 4 local businesses on Dunbar High Street: Dunbar Community Bakery, Crunchy Carrot, Quality Butchers Dunbar and the Ridge Café in the Bleachingfield Centre. In total, the local businesses benefitted from an extra £7,300 worth of business thanks to Community Windpower’s donation to purchase the gift vouchers.

Peter Whitecross, Quality Butchers Dunbar said “We have seen a lot of new faces in the shop and many have been surprised at just how much meat they can get with their vouchers – supermarkets are not the only places to give good deals”.

Jo Gibson, Crunchy Carrot greengrocers said “It has been great getting so many new customers in the shop – we have taken the opportunity to show them round, many had no idea that we stocked so much and that we are always happy to supply half a cabbage or a teaspoon of spices – whatever is needed for a recipe”.

Councillor Norman Hampshire welcomed this support saying “It is important to support the High Street so these local businesses can carry on providing valuable services. Dunbar is lucky to have a thriving High Street with both long established businesses like the butchers and greengrocer, but also new businesses like the Community Bakery”.

Darryl Sharp, the baker at Dunbar Community Bakery said “People were really pleased to get the vouchers and have come in to buy our artisan bread, savouries and other products, some for the first time. We have been happy to let people buy smaller quantities, spending their voucher in a number of visits – we are here to help”.

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