Kintyre Food Bank expands after sharp rise in demand

The expansion has seen Kintyre Food Bank take on the unit next door to its existing base at the Mull of Kintyre Industrial Estate, giving volunteers more room to store food and prepare parcels, while also providing shelter for clients waiting during poor weather.

The refurbished unit was officially opened by Tarbert Academy pupils Lucy, Ellie and Eva, who had previously secured a £3,000 grant for Kintyre Food Bank through the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).

The trio worked together to research the charity before presenting their project to a panel and successfully securing the funding.

Their £3,000 award helped pay for a new sign, made by Argyll Signs, restocking the food bank and some of the costs of the refurbishment.

The opening was attended by supporters from across the community, including residents of Lorne Campbell Court and pupils from Dalintober Primary School.

The expansion comes after what Kintyre Food Bank described as an unprecedented increase in demand for its services.

During 2025/26, it assisted 1,379 adults and 854 children and provided a total of 977 food parcels.

Compared with the previous year, the number of adults requiring assistance increased by 49 per cent, while the number of children rose by 87 per cent.

With demand increasing and its existing unit becoming too small, the food bank committee decided it needed to seek additional premises.

MacLeod Construction agreed to rent the neighbouring unit to the charity and also helped carry out the renovation work needed to connect the two spaces.

Funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Greenhall Foundation has enabled Kintyre Food Bank to purchase commercial fridges and freezers for storing fresh and frozen produce, as well as helping towards the cost of refurbishing the additional unit.

Kintyre Food Bank chairperson Ilene Shaw said the additional space would make a significant difference to the charity and those who rely on it.

She said: “On behalf of us all at Kintyre Food Bank, may we thank the community for its continued support.

“Without everyone’s generosity, it would be very difficult for us to carry out the charitable work we do.

“Our new premises will allow us to stock more food, give us more space to prepare orders and, more importantly, provide shelter for clients from inclement weather.”

Mrs Shaw also paid tribute to the volunteers who give their time to keep the service running.

She added: “Lastly, I would like to thank all the volunteers at Kintyre Food Bank. The time and effort they give to ensure everything is in place is very humbling.

“I thank them for their continued commitment to helping those living with food insecurity.”