The South East Edinburgh food bank in Burdiehouse has announced it will close on Monday’s bank holiday to “join the nation in mourning for Her Majesty The Queen.”
The food bank has joined a long list of services and companies closing to commemorate the Queen’s funeral service in Westminster on Monday.
On Tuesday, the Edinburgh SE food bank said: “We join the nation in mourning for Her Majesty The Queen. Our heartfelt sympathies are extended to all members of The Royal Family and Household, and we honour Her Majesty The Queen’s long service and duty to the country.”
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The food bank added: “Blythswood Care will close all our operations on this day, including the SE Edinburgh Foodbank. We want to allow our staff the opportunity to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate her reign, while marking the final day of the period of national mourning.”
Councillors for the Liberton and Gilmerton ward Lesley Macinnes and Martha Mattos-Coelho issued a joint statement following the announcement:
“Food banks are really important for everyone who is struggling at the moment in the face of quickly rising prices, astronomical energy prices hikes and threats to people’s jobs and businesses.
“The work they do in our community is absolutely vital in helping people through rough times and they always welcome more donations, however small, to help them keep delivering help where it is needed. On the occasion of the Queen’s funeral I hope that people will understand why the volunteers and organisations who run these lifeline services may want to acknowledge it.”
Edinburgh SE food bank is part of The Trussel Trust nationwide network of food banks in the UK. The Trust has more than 1,200 food bank centres in its network and represents about two thirds of the food banks in the UK.
Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trust, made a statement about food bank arrangements on Monday:
“Food banks in our network run sessions on different days and at different times, and many rely on the unwavering dedication of volunteers. Food banks are best placed to make the right decision for their communities and will ensure everyone who needs support can access it as they do with every bank holiday.
“Food banks often open for longer, or run extra sessions during bank holidays. As each food bank is an independent charity, we’d encourage people who need support to contact their local food bank to check their opening hours.”
Although Edinburgh SE will be closed on Monday, many other food banks and food security services will be operating as usual during the bank holiday.
Edinburgh North East food bank, and the Edinburgh Food Project, which operates 7 food banks across the north west, central and east of Edinburgh will all be operating as usual.
The SE Edinburgh food bank will re-open as usual on Tuesday 20 September.
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