VOLUNTEERS at a Wee County foodbank are working hard to make sure food parcels get to those who most need it with fresh measures to keep people safe.

The Gate in Alloa is going to deliver food parcels to people's doorsteps and volunteers will be adhering to social distancing rules, chapping the door and leaving the supplies behind for residents.

The charity's flagship soup pot project unfortunately had to be closed for the foreseeable future, following the announcement of stricter measures last night.

Hopes are to keep the food parcels going out, on a strict referral system, as long as possible, but donations of food and money are desperately needed.

Marie Brownhill, centre manager at The Gate, said: “We are hoping to keep it going as long as we can because we are struggling with volunteers now as well.

“We are still urgently needing food and cash donations to keep us going.”

Money can be donated through a Bacs transfer and The Gate's food collection trolleys are still in the supermarkets.

Marie, who has been hard at organising the response all day, only had praise for the local support so far.

She added: “The community has been absolutely amazing.

“They have been supporting us through cash donations and donations of food and offered to assist us.”

She is hoping people will stick by The Gate amid the increasingly more difficult coronavirus crisis.

“We are just going to try our best to keep going”, added Marie.

While the charity operates the foodbank on a referral system, new referrals are possible through Clackmannanshire Council's housing team and other agencies.