Shoppers at Inverness Morrisons raise most in Scotland to help people hit by cost of living crisis
Customers at an Inverness supermarket proved they were the most generous in Scotland with donations to help feed people facing difficult times.
Morrisons customers raised £6397 for Inverness Foodstuff which is setting records every month in the numbers of meals served due to the cost-of-living crisis.
The community-run café, based in Ness Bank Church, is a lifeline and sanctuary for those facing significant challenges including financial hardship and homelessness.
During 2022, the number of meals it provided was up by 2000 from the previous year, while in January it provided 83 three-course lunches in one day alone.
Cost of living crisis: 'If I did not come here, I would not be able to afford to eat.'
Customers at the city’s Morrisons store in Millburn Road donated £6397 to the project through the store’s community giving tree in November and December. It was the most raised in any Scotland Morrisons store.
Pam Urquhart, Inverness Foodstuff operations manager, was “blown away” by the amount.
“Sadly, Inverness Foodstuff is seeing first-hand the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on individuals and families as they struggle to afford food and other necessities,” she said.
“In 2022, we provided a staggering 7618 three-course meals – almost 2000 more than in 2021. Unfortunately, we are setting new records every month.
“In January, we provided 83 three-course lunches in one day, our highest daily number to date excluding Christmas Eve when we provided 140 lunches – another record.”
The project uses donated surplus supermarket food for its three-course, nutritious, vegetarian lunches.
But it needed to buy some ingredients while increased numbers meant there had been a steep rise in its shopping bills.
Kylie Omand, community champion at the store, said she, her managers and colleagues were amazed by how much was raised.
“When I found out the Morrisons Giving Tree was coming back for 2022, I knew straight away that as a store we would be doing this to support Inverness Foodstuff,” she said.
“During lockdown while Inverness Foodstuff was unable to serve seated meals, we were able to provide them with donations of items sent in to us by Morrisons and also donated by customers.
“When Inverness Foodstuff was able to open back up again it no longer had the space for as many donated items so we were unable to donate as much to its cause as we were with other local organisations.
“I felt it only made sense to provide them this support given the fantastic work the team put in to feeding the local community.”
Stuart Black, chairman of Inverness Foodstuff, said the project was incredibly grateful to the store's customers for their kindness and support.
"This really is an extraordinary amount for Morrisons customers to have donated at this difficult time for many in our community.
"I understand that Morrisons customers at the Millburn Road store donated more than any other Morrisons store in
Scotland, which is just tremendous."
