A WEST END restaurant has crowdfunded a massive amount of money to distribute free meals to vulnerable people in the city during the coronavirus crisis.
David Maguire, owner of 1051GWR, converted the kitchens of his bar and grill restaurant to facilitate meal-making on a massive scale at the start of the lockdown.
He started a Go Fund Me to raise money for raw ingredients at the end of March. In less than three weeks, they have since raised over £40,000.
David told The Glasgow Times: "The main thing I want people to know is that we want anyone to come in and get something to eat.
"If you are out on your walk or buying food or medicine, come in and pick up a pasta or a pizza.
"We are adhering to social distancing and everything is as safe as possible.
"Even if you are able to go out and feed yourself, everyone knows someone who doesn't find it that easy.
"Be it a granny who can't get out their house, or a neighbour self-isolating, or someone you know that works in the front line and is a key worker. They can have a hot meal and don't need to queue and we don't want anyone to pay for anything."
The restaurant has been a staple on Great Western Road for years.
Along with providing meals to staff from the nearby Gartnavel hospital, David says the meals from 1051GWR have proven popular with the local Police.
David added: "We have had lots of officers stopping by while they are on duty and getting something to eat.
"I think it is a good morale boost for them to come in and see the support they get.
"Up until now we have been successfully feeding around 500 people a day at a cost of £1500 for raw materials to our business each day.
"This has only been possible thanks to our team of volunteers and those of you offering to give up your time to support our endeavours.
"We are working with 11 charities, including St. Vincent Du Paul, the Drumchapel Foodbank, and feeding people housed in the Alexander Greek Thompson hotel".
The Go Fund Me page has donations of over £5000 from figures popular in the Glasgow community. David says he aims to raise the amount of meals to 1000 a day as the lockdown is extended.
David added: "When this is over we will have a new normal.
"The change might be for the better but it has come at a cost of human tragedy.
"But the community spirit is unbelievable.
"We just wanted to help, make people's lives easier."
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