Food Parcels in Aberdeen to Rocket to 10,000 a Month

An Aberdeen charity eyes handing out up to 10,000 food parcels per month, in six months times, according to its founder.

Jenny Taylor, the founder of Somebody Cares, says the organisation is currently giving out up to 1,000 food bags per month across its two sites, but this will increase to up to 5,000 over the festive period as the charity caters for local schools.

But if the 50 volunteer strong organisation develops more food banks, Taylor estimates they could see up to 10,000 food bags per month handed out in six months' time.

The charity, which was founded in 2002, has newly opened a centre Tillydrone, which is run by Jenny's husband Brian.

"We've been doing this for a long time now, and we developed the Tillydrone site because there was more need down there," Taylor says.

"We go down with a van and we take over the community centre and distribute the food parcels through our voucher system."

The charity runs a voucher system to ensure that people do not take advantage of its services.

"People are referred to us through our vouchers," Taylor explains. "It's for people who can't meet ends meet."

Taylor says she started the voucher system recently because the group has people with addictions coming to their sites.

She adds: "If we gave them a food bag every week, they would sell it."

The founder says they are now entitled to just one parcel per month to avoid the problem.

But the Scots-woman stresses that the charity can give people a food bag every week depending on how severe their situation is.

Taylor created the charity after being inspired Doug Stringer, who runs the Christian organisation Somebody Cares America.

She decided to set up the organisation because she was distressed by "seeing the poor areas and people really struggling" in Aberdeen.

Taylor says that experience made her see food banks were really needed in the Scottish city.

Aberdeen Council has not replied for a request for comment at the time of publication.