Forth Valley College has been distributing essential items to the local community to help in the response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
As soon as the college shut down on Wednesday March 18 any fresh food – mainly fruit, vegetables, milk and yoghurt – from all three of the campuses were delivered to the Salvation Army base in Raploch, Stirling.
Ype van der Schaaf, FVC Chef Manager, said: “The day we were closing we made sure the food that was still in date would go to the Salvation Army as we always do this with our surplus food just before the Christmas break. If we didn’t do this the food would just be wasted and we know the Salvation Army will put it to very good use.”
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has also been in great demand in local care homes and other environments focussing on care. And with the college offering subjects where PPE is used regularly, it was able to send as much as they could to local worthy causes.
Marc McCusker, FVC’s Head of Facilities Management and Health and Safety, said: “We have had a great response from all our departments in the college to say they had PPE or materials which could be donated and it has all been put to good use. Masks, gloves, and hand wash in particular have all been distributed to local care homes and that has been put to very good use.
“I am very proud of my team and of many other colleagues in the college who we have helped to come into the college campuses safely – like Ype and the Hospitality staff - and access items to be distributed too. We are also on a reserve list for any beds and other items that could be used if needed by the NHS in the future and we are ready to help in any way we can.”
Lorna Smith, East Housing Officer at Bield Housing & Care, said: “We are extremely grateful for the for the donation from Forth Valley College to Bield at Home, a service which provides care in community.
“The donation of PPE equipment (60 disposable masks and two boxes of gloves) enabled our staff to continue carrying out vital work to help and support some of Scotland’s older and most vulnerable members of the community.
“It’s also great to see the community coming together to support each other at this difficult time.”