309 SEPTEMBER 2020 - Gryffe Advertizer

Reaching out to
support the Foodbank
The Houston & Killellan Kirk’s initiative in collecting food and
toiletries for the Renfrewshire Foodbank has been truly embraced
by the whole Houston Community during Lockdown. Donations
every Tuesday average 60-70 shopping bags. A few weeks in and
the Foodbank were reporting on Facebook “this week it was half
a ton of food delivered – WOW!” In the first 14 weeks of receiving
donations at the West Halls, Houston on Tuesdays, the Foodbank
advised that 4.5 tons providing 11,000 meals had been delivered.
Now, after 21 weeks, around 16,000 meals have probably been
provided for, as well as many bags of toiletries, made up of
contributions from individuals, groups and businesses including:
• Several separate street collections
• Anchor Boys, who had been collecting prior to Lockdown
• A Brownie Pack, who donated Easter Eggs as they couldn’t
distribute them to their girls
• Kirk Youth Club, who passed on contents of their tuck shop
• Gryffe High School, who supplied sanitary items
• A Book Club, who collected from their members
• A Children’s Dance Class collection
• The “Wee Blether” Kirk Group, who even gave up the contents
of their biscuit cupboard!
• Beaton Bros, who supplied bottles of hand sanitisers
• Monetary donations – either handed in or sent directly to
Renfrewshire Foodbank
There is now a dedicated team of volunteers & drivers, some of
whom had no Kirk connection before volunteering.
So, what was very well supported by those attending the Kirk on
Sunday mornings before Lockdown has grown into an initiative
enthusiastically supported by the wider Houston Community
at the West Halls every Tuesday during these difficult times. In
the current climate, those depending on the Foodbank, will have
even greater needs than before. So it will be terrific if those in
the Houston Community can continue to support, not only in
donating, but also in spreading the word to the wider community.
The opportunity to donate continues:
Where? West Halls, Main Street, Houston with no social contact.
When? Tuesdays 10 am to 12 noon and 7 pm to 8 pm
What? UHT Milk, Breakfast Cereals, Diluting Juice, Tinned Fish,
Tinned Meats, Tinned Tomatoes, Pasta, Tinned Potatoes or
Smash, Tinned Fruit, Creamed Rice, Tins or Cartons of Custard,
Coffee (small jars), Tea Bags, Jams, Soap & all Toiletries.
Meanwhile, please keep an eye on the Latest News on the Kirk
web site www.houstonkillellankirk.org, where details of the current
needs are published. Also you will find reports and photographs
posted weekly by Revd Gary Noonan on the Kirk’s Facebook page.
Thank you! LOVING … CARING … SHARING!!!
local community, local life ............... 10
Rotary Gryffe Valley
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
Donald Robb is no longer able to be an active member
due to his ill health. As an acknowledgment of his long
membership and his contribution to the work of Rotary, Don
was unanimously elected to Honorary Membership.
WEEKLY MEETINGS
Gryffe Valley Rotary continues to meet weekly on Wednesday
using ZOOM. Once a fortnight we have a speaker and in
between we have an informal Chat meeting.
Recent speaker meetings have been very interesting:
• Ian Jackson on the History of Houston
• Sai Kumar on 50 years of Surgery from India to Paisley
• Kieran Anderson (grandson of Tommy Langley) online
from Vancouver on his football career and his role in
“Happy Feet” which promotes Soccer on-line
• Adam McCartney on ”Tales of an Itinerant Milkman”
about the first half of his career in the dairy industry
Coming up - we have a talk on 16th September on “Rotaract”.
Rotaract clubs bring together people aged 18-30+ to
exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop
leadership and professional skills and have fun through
enterprising activities. There are already Rotaract Clubs in
Glasgow and Renfrew and the speaker Mariela Gaitan will
undoubtedly encourage Gryffe Valley to consider setting up
one here.
Potential new members - including those interested in
Rotaract - are invited to join these meetings – please
contact a member or e-mail gryffevalleyrotary@gmail.com
to arrange an invitation. We are keen to give a platform to
community groups to promote their activities – please let us
know if you wish to speak.
ROTARY YOUTH SERVICES
The club is planning to organise as many of the usual Youth
competitions as possible. The Young Writer competition will
certainly happen, i.e. a Club Competition followed by District
and National Finals. This session’s topic is “My Happiest Day”.
Schools will be encouraged to send entries later this term.