Residents and staff at a Glasgow care home have united in a joint effort to tackle hardship in the community.
Haydale Care Home, based in Corbett Street in Tollcross, started the 'Corbett community cupboard' last week.
Open every Tuesday from 10am till 12pm, the new foodbank offers tinned goods and dry foods, as well as clothes and toiletries to families or individuals in the area who need a helping hand.
As well as hoping to tackle economic hardships, Haydale's care home staff are using the new initiative to keep residents active and engaged in their local community.
Kirstin Millar, activities coordinator at Haydale, said: "Our residents are very active.
"They're always looking for something to do every day and they just love being outside and sorting through things, like tins and such.
"So, this foodbank is giving them a purpose, and involves them in the community and engages them."
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The idea for the initiative was born out of a derelict building lying on the care home's premises.
Isabel Cummings, activities co-ordinator at Haydale, said: "We had an old Covid visiting pod, which wasn't being used.
"We had to think of what to use it for and we thought we could do it for a meaningful reason.
"Round here in Tollcross, we don't have a lot of foodbanks, we don't even know if there is another one.
"So, we just thought we'll have a local foodbank in the space and help give back to the community who gave so much to us during covid."
Since starting up, the foodbank has been able to provide essentials for many locals in the area.
Four families were helped by the new service last week, as well as several families and individuals so far this week.
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Kirstin said: "A woman who came by today with her daughter is facing hard times and they were just so grateful.
"We got her to tell us what she liked rather than make her a bag of food and we had a great chat with her.
"She's becoming familiar with us and that's how we want it to be."
The service is not only helping locals but also residents who help run it every week.
Alice Softly, 67, is very involved in helping with the foodbank.
Alice, who has been living at Haydale for the last three years, said: "The food bank is a great idea.
"I like to be kind to people and like it when people are kind to me too.
"I like it too because I get bored easily.
"When I was young, I used to volunteer to help needy people in the area and went with my teacher and a nurse to St Raymonds in Castlemilk and St Oswalds in Clarkston where we used to help out families in need.
"The food bank reminds me of this, and I enjoy helping out."
Alice was even singing at 8.30am with excitement while waiting for Tuesday's foodbank to open.
The care home is currently accepting donations at the main reception of their premises and is receiving donations from the co-op funeral parlour and shop, as well as residents' families, who Kirstin and Isabel say have been "amazing".
The 'Corbett community cupboard' is run on a non-referral basis. Anyone is welcome to come and take what they need without any questions being asked.
To get in contact with Haydale about the community cupboard, click HERE or call 0141 778 8678.
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