FEEDING his community comes as naturally to Alex O’Kane as feeding himself.
From watching his father make soup for his neighbours as a boy growing up, the 55-year-old Milton native knows how important food is to building and maintaining communities.
His food delivery operation is in action and has been since he first started making food parcels up for people struggling to make ends meet in 2014.
Alex currently delivers around 25 food parcels a week with his online community group No1Seems2Care and expects this to rise in the run-up to Christmas.
He said: “The temperatures are getting worse, so people are spending more on power and heating.
“Some houses we deliver to, they don’t have any lights on because they don’t have power.”
We told previously how a Parkhouse shopkeeper was stunned by the generosity of a mystery woman who donated £100 to his shop to pay for struggling customers’ bills.
Alex thinks this generosity is typical of his community.
“I’ve often called out crime in Milton, I’ve been doing that for two decades,” he said. “The community has been very much stigmatised.
“This year has shown more than ever that the people of Milton step up in a crisis. They look after each other.”
Often tripped up by bags of food left outside his house, Alex said he is also thinking of restarting his Christmas box which proved so successful last year.
The Christmas box allowed people to come to Alex’s garden, where he had set up a small cabinet on a post, and take or give as they pleased, without the embarrassment of having to ask for help face-to-face.
“Of course, it’s Covid-safe too, so I’ve been thinking it might be a good idea this year,” he said.
Alex recommends that if people want to donate food to help him feed the people of Milton, they go for basics like porridge and pasta that are easy to make and nutritious.
Residents also receive parcels with Christmassy treats over the winter, with selection boxes and chocolate coins thrown in to spread Christmas cheer.
To donate food, or to arrange a delivery, contact Alex through his Facebook page, No1Seems2Care.
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