HELENSBURGH and Lomond Foodbank gave out more than 3,500 food parcels in the space of a year, a report has revealed.
The organisation has also reported that it assisted 316 clients during the year which ended on October 31, 2025.
It has now been recommended that the food bank become a registered Scottish charitable incorporated association (SCIO), with a decision due to be made next month.
The details feature in a report to go before Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond community planning group at its meeting on Tuesday, May 12.
A spokesperson said: “We are an independent food bank operating drop-in centres for clients in Helensburgh on a Monday and Thursday, and in Rosneath on a Wednesday.
“Our policy is to give a food bag to everyone who turns up without requiring a referral, although a record is kept of who attends.
“All those working at the food bank are volunteers and there are no paid staff; we do, however, pay for the premises we use as service centres, and make a donation to the local charity, Beacon Trust, which provides transport between our foodstore at Churchill and the centres.
“In the year ended October 31, 2025, we helped 316 clients, providing 3,529 food support parcels that cover three to five days’ needs for each household, varying by family size.
“At the drop-in centres we also signpost clients to other sources of help such as ALIenergy, the Flexible Food Fund, and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
“A faithful band of regular supporters in the community keep us going with donations of food and cash, but as time has gone on our donors have themselves been affected by the cost-of-living crisis and we have been in a cash deficit for the past three years.”
The report added: “At our 11th AGM on April 27 the Management Committee recommended that the Foodbank becomes a registered SCIO.
“This would give access to wider grant funding, and open up possibilities for the future such as entering contracts while limiting the liabilities of individual Trustees.
“The proposed new constitution will be put to the current members at an extraordinary general meeting in June.”
