Love Gorgie Farm and the Marie Curie Hospice have received £1,000 each as part of the Barratt Homes East Scotland Community Fund.
The former will be using its £1,000 boost from the housebuilder on improving storage in the foodbank, with a new fridge freezer to contain fresh produce and food packages. For Marie Curie Hospice, the money will help towards essential running costs, as they aim to raise over £250,000 a week to continue delivering their Scottish services
On the site of the former Gorgie City Farm, Love Gorgie Farm, supports vulnerable children, young people and adults, using innovative ways to engage them in learning. On the day of lockdown, March 22nd 2020, Love Gorgie Farm opened its doors as a foodbank giving out hundreds of parcels to vulnerable people and families in Edinburgh, East Lothian and West Lothian every month.
Marie Curie Hospice aims to give those with critical illnesses the best quality of life, and support them to keep them independence and dignity for as long as possible. This includes treating or managing pain with medicines, therapies and other specialist approaches while also giving emotional support to the patient and their family.
Alison Condie, managing director at Barratt East Scotland, said: “Love Gorgie Farm and Marie Curie Hospice do a fantastic job at supporting the communities around them with food packages and care.
“We’re thrilled to be able to help them and we hope that our donation will allow them continue to provide their crucial services.”
Dolina Gorman, charity fundraiser at Love Gorgie Farm, added: “We would like to thank Barratt Homes for their generous donation; this will enable us to continue to fight food poverty and offer this essential service to the most vulnerable in the community.
“To date we have delivered over 1000 food parcels and 450 facemasks, the demand for this service remains high and the foodbank will now be a permanent fixture on the farm. The donation will certainly make a huge impact on how Love Gorgie farm provides for those in the community.”
Fiona Bushby, Community Fundraiser at the Marie Curie Hospice said: “Thank you to Barratt East Scotland for this exceptionally generous funding.
“Coronavirus has had a devastating effect on Marie Curie, with the crisis also seriously affecting our ability to fundraise and the public donations on which we rely. Currently, our work is needed more than ever as we continue to care for dying people and support their loved ones.“
Now in its second year, the Barratt Homes Community Fund has pledged to donate £1,000 each month to a charity or organisation in the East of Scotland. Charities are nominated by and voted for by employees of Barratt Homes and the focus for the fund continues to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area
For more information on Barratt Homes, visit the website.