A GLASGOW minister has written to Nicola Sturgeon urging more government help to secure food deliveries for communities hardest hit by the coronavirus lockdown.

The Reverend Brian Casey believes the model he helped set up in his Springburn community to deal with the crisis could be replicated across the city and called for churches and other groups to be included in national action plans.

Rev Casey and local SNP MSP Bob Doris got together with the community council, the Salvation Army, Police Scotland and the Catholic Church to get a plan in place for the area's most vulnerable, who were already accessing food banks.

READ MORE: Glasgow's emergency hospital to be named in honour of Maryhill nurse 

The church is supplying emergency food via a referral system and carrying out welfare checks and prescription runs – but the minister warned that he would only be able to keep this running for the next five weeks without financial assistance.

In his message, the minister wrote: “A lot of churches and charitable organisations have rallied round, but we need guidance from the government and support in securing our food supply. 

“The other option is that we end up with the Army doing it.

“The fact that there are 2000 foodbanks just shows that the weakest in society are not being cared for by the UK welfare system and we need to step up as a country – Scotland – and say: ‘This isn’t good enough. If you don’t do it, we will.’

“I am a fiercely proud Scot and support many of the policies of the SNP government but I must speak out when I think more can be done, and Nicola, this is one such case. 

“We need to take a look at the success of our current project, both the partnership working and system of securing food, and ask how that can be replicated.
“Despite this crisis being foreseen, partner agencies weren’t really in the loop until the last minute. 

READ MORE: Free copies of the Glasgow Times to be delivered to every care home in the city 

“We received a referral from someone in Easterhouse which is way out of our area and this has made me realise that people elsewhere need guidance on how to support their communities.

“I want to be absolutely clear though. Where there is need, we will respond, although at the moment we are using a referral 
system. 

“This is to ensure that we continue to have food and can sustain as long as possible.”

The minister said he was “genuinely moved” by the show of support from the Springburn community, many of whom, “have very little of their own”.

He added: “Our model, although still imperfect, is working because it is done with contributions from our elected officials, our clergy and our local officials as well as the NHS. 

“We are harnessing each other’s passion for the folks of North Glasgow.”

Shops are closing. Newspaper sales are falling. But we’ve chosen to keep our coverage of the Coronavirus crisis free because it’s so important that the people of Glasgow stay informed during this difficult time.

To help us get through this, we’re asking readers who can afford it to contribute either £3, £5 or £8 a month to the Glasgow Times.

If you choose to sign up, we’ll also take away all the adverts – and deliver a digital version of the print paper to your device. Click here to help Save Your Times.