Dunbar Foodshare - More than a food bank

They tailor their support to individual needs but generally this looks like helping people in immediate financial crisis with food, toiletries, pet food and any grocery needs. Lorna, who helps to manage the service tells us, ‘sometimes people might just need one week of food to make the next paycheck, or they might need weeks of support.’

Clients come and pick up essential items, fresh fruit and vegetables, pet food, as well as treats and other non-essential items too, helping themselves to anything they need.

Previously, pet food wasn’t considered an essential item, so they would only be able to provide it as and when it was donated.

However, a third of their clients are pet owners and the need for more consistent pet food provisions was clear.

Thanks to support from Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, pet food is now reliably provided as an essential item.

Dunbar FoodShare also hosts a Social Café which is open to everyone from 10:30am-2pm every Wednesday.

In the morning, the cafe serves breakfast rolls, followed by freshly made soup and mains for lunch service.

Lorna tells us that just talking about it, ‘doesn’t express the atmosphere of the cafe.’ Adding, ‘People find it really hard to walk through the door and get support from us, when they do come, they get a great welcome from our fantastic volunteers. There are also a lot of people who come just for their lunch because they’ve had help before and it’s a very social atmosphere.’

Well-behaved pets are always welcome at the Social Cafe.

Lorna says that being able to bring pets with them when they come to the cafe, or to pick up the provisions they need, can be a huge source of support for people. ‘A lot of people are anxious, but people who’ve got pets and can bring them with them, it’s a support to them, it makes it less scary.’

And the other clients love to see the pets when they come in, one woman always turns up with a pocket full of dog treats!

Accessing pet food as part of their essential items has been life-changing for many clients of Dunbar FoodShare.

One person said that accessing pet food was ‘amazing because when you find yourself in a situation like that, the first thing you worry about is your beloved pet.  If you’re not able to feed your dog, then you feel shame. It was so releasing [to receive pet food support].’

Another added that accessing pet food ‘meant the world. You feel better about giving your animal good-quality food, as the cheapest kibble at the supermarket is often full of additives. He shared that his pets ‘are a support and a motivation even when things are tough.’

One of the main challenges Dunbar FoodShare faces is helping people feel comfortable to come through the door and accept help.

‘There are some people who think that if you’ve got a mortgage and a job and you’re not on benefits, then you can’t access help, but there are a lot of people who are working and not getting additional help. Anyone who is struggling can come to us.’