Glasgow cafes Haylynn Canteen and Outlier open as temporary foodbanks during bank holiday closures

Upon learning of the closures, Robbie Morrow, owner of Haylynn Canteen on Dumbarton Road, took to social media to announce his plan of action.

He said: “We’re usually shut on Mondays, but we were motivated to open for donations when we learned that food banks were going to be closed.

"It angered us and we wanted to do something to help.

“We only put the post online three days ago and now we can barely move for the amount of stuff that we have.

“The response has been overwhelming.”

Pictured: Robbie Morrow (Image: newsquest)

Taking a short break to chat as he sorted through bags of cupboard essentials, Robbie said the experience had opened his eyes to the amount of work local charities do to help feed the community’s most vulnerable members.

newsquest (Image: newsquest)

He said: “I didn’t expect even a quarter of the stuff we’ve had handed in.

“We would love to do more work like this in the future but don’t want to take away from the work that food banks in Glasgow do every day.

“We’re not looking to have a light shone on us, but if there’s any way that we can collect donations to be passed on then we would be happy to do so.

“Today has really made me realise how many people rely on these services for support.”

newsquest (Image: newsquest)

As well as acting as an impromptu food bank, the team at the Haylynn Canteen have set up a JustGiving page which has now raised more than £1600 and will later be distributed to organisations across Glasgow.

Over on London Road, Steven Turner, of Outlier Coffee House and Bakery, had also had a busy morning of collecting donations of non-perishable food items and warm clothing.

Explaining his reasoning for doing so, he said: “We decided to open on Monday to take in donations from our customers and community because as tragic as any death is, we can guarantee those relying on the support of food banks will still need to put food in their stomachs.

“With the conversation around the cost-of-living crisis put on hold for what is essentially a media blackout on the subject, along with soaring energy bills, it is going to be a tremendous struggle for many in our community.”

Pictured: Outlier collects donations (Image: newsquest)

Much like Robbie at the Haylynn Canteen, Steven had underestimated the number of people who would answer their call for support, describing the response as ‘nothing short of heart-warming’. 

He said: “We've had many people message us to ask how they can support, and we're seeing local businesses pulling together.

“Bare Bones Chocolate who supply us and are based around the corner generously donated cases of oat milk from their stock, and Us V Them coffee shop which is up the road toward the Barras has offered their van to drive the donations to the food banks we'll be supplying.”

Looking past the bank holiday, Steven has made it clear that he is eager to continue doing his part to help as the cost-of-living crisis tightens its grip.

He said: “We are always looking at how we can best support our community.

“Just recently we organised a weekly donation of bread to the Kinning Park Complex for their weekly community meals which is a great initiative.

“In the future as Outlier develops, we'd like to see how we can support single parents and the elderly along with those most vulnerable in our community with free breads.”

Whiteinch-based community pantry Well-Fed Scotland was amongst the organisations that chose to stay open despite the national bank holiday.

A spokesperson for the charity explained they felt it “important to offer their service seven days-a-week” in a Facebook post that has gone on to receive over 400 likes.

Pictured: A previous Homeless Project Scotland queue (Image: newsquest)

As today’s edition of the Glasgow Times went to print, Homeless Project Scotland was holding an ‘emergency soup kitchen’ in their usual spot under the Hielanman’s Umbrella on Argyle Street.

On Sunday evening, charity bosses said that they were “disappointed and shocked in the extreme” to learn that other food banks would not be running during the bank holiday.

A statement read: “We appreciate that tomorrow will be an emotional day for our country, however, we also must recognise that tomorrow will bring challenges for those who are vulnerable and homeless in being able to source and access warm and nutritious food.

"We must uphold our principles at this difficult time and ensure that nobody goes to bed with an empty stomach."

Tantrum Doughnuts and Raja Rani in Bearsden were the first to pledge their support for the emergency service.