A COMMUNITY food larder has opened in the Hillfoots last week to make sure no one goes hungry in the area.

Tillicoultry Community Larder opened its doors last Monday, June 1, to help people who are struggling to put food on the table in the town as well as around Coalsnaughton and Devonside.

Located at Tillicoultry Baptist Church Annex and open three days a week, the idea has been in the making for around a year.

While the coronavirus outbreak initially put plans on hold, it later became evident there was a need for a larder more than ever.

Fiona Seaman, a member of the church helping to run the initiative, said: "The larder is something that people at Tillicoultry Baptist Church had a vision for last year when some of our members, who were aware of food poverty in the area, came up with the idea that no one should go to bed hungry in our community.

"We had been having meetings with Alva Development Trust and The Gate food bank in Alloa when the lockdown began and all our plans were put on hold.

"As the weeks went on we were very aware that food poverty is an issue that is not going away and with people off sick, furloughed or made redundant due to coronavirus, more people are struggling than ever before.

"We felt that we should pick up where we left off and get the larder up and running."

The larder is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 2-4pm at Tillicoultry Baptist Church Annex on Murray Square to help people.

There are no awkward questions and no referrals needed.

People running the initiative are also able to offer debt advice through Christians Against Poverty (CAP), which operates locally.

And since opening last week, the community food larder has already helped several individuals and has been "overwhelmed by support and donations" according to Fiona.

She added: "We are grateful for support from so many in to the community."

Fiona and the team are working together with other groups including Tillicoultry, Coalsnaughton and Devonside Community Council, Alva Development Trust and Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface.

People looking to support the larder can take food such as tinned and dried foods, long life products and similar to the Murray Square Annexe during opening hours or place them in donation baskets at Tillicoultry Co-op.

Basic toiletries and household cleaning products are also being sought.

Anyone looking to make a monetary donation or needing a delivery of food can email foodlarder@tillicoultrybaptist.org or call 07495 054 526.