The Queen's funeral next Monday has been designated as a bank holiday, which has prompted many businesses to close their doors as a mark of respect to the late monarch.
This includes dozens of food banks across Scotland, with many choosing to close their centres and warehouses to allow staff members to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The Trussell Trust - which oversees 45 operators and 118 centres distributing groceries - confirmed some food banks could close. According to Third Force News (TFN), at least 17 operators - responsible for running 48 food banks - are expected not to open on the day of the funeral.
Among those closing on Monday will be the Blythswood Care, a Christian charity, that runs 11 food banks across the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh.
Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “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.”
With many households needing access to the vital service amidst rising costs, we have provided some handy information on the food bank closures across Scotland and how you can access help.
What food banks will be open on the Queen's Funeral?
While dozens of food banks across the country are closing, there are many that have made the decision to remain open to help out those in need.
Among those remaining open will be South Foodbank based in Banchory, Aberdeenshire. The food bank, which is the closest to Balmoral Castle, said they will be open as "people are hungry whether the Queen has died or not."
Operators based in Perth, Kinross, Airdrie, Larkhall, Airdrie and North West Glasgow are set to stay open on the bank holiday as well.
How can I check if a food bank near me will be open?
To check for a food bank near you, you can head over to the Trussell Trust website to have a look through their whole network of operators.
It is worth noting that operating hours do differ and not all food bands are originally open on a Monday, whether it is a bank holiday or not. However, there are those that are open for you to check.
All you need to do is head to the Find A Food Bank section on the charities website and enter your postcode. This will bring up all the details of food banks closest to you.
As a reminder, we have noticed that quite a few food banks that mention they are open on the website have announced that they will be closed on Monday, so it is worth double checking.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
READ NEXT:
