A NEWLY established food bank will soon be handing out free goodie bags to young girls and women in a bid to end period poverty locally.

Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels, who are now a sub-committee of the local community council, will be in Clyde Shopping Centre later this month handing out bags containing sanitary products, toiletries, and a small gift.

Maureen Cummings set up the food bank with her husband Gordon in May amid the coronavirus pandemic but hopes to continue the service in the long-term.

Maureen said: “We have noticed during running our food parcels project that females are simply not coming forward to get the free sanitary items.

“Obviously with the schools, colleges and universities being closed there are lots of young girls possibly going without or indeed going short – we want to reach as many of them as possible and I thought it would be a good idea to hold a ‘give away’ event to try and make it a nice positive experience.”

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The project has supported more than 175 families across Old Kilpatrick, Bowling and Dalmuir, with free food and hand sanitiser.

The food bank has also been approached by the EE store in the Clyde Shopping Centre, who have chosen to support the charity.

A food donations area will be set up in the shop for people to drop food off at once it’s back opened to customers.

For more information on Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels, including drop off points, where and when you can receive a parcel, visit their Facebook page – Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels.