West Lothian food charity launches urgent appeal to help hard-up OAPs

dailyrecord.co.uk:

West Lothian residents can directly support older people in the county by sponsoring boxes which deliver lifeline shopping deliveries to their homes.Food Train has launched a fundraising drive across West Lothian amid deepening concerns about the impact of the cost of living crisis on older people.Throughout this month, its BOXtober campaign will give people across the region the opportunity to sponsor the boxes which carry essential groceries delivered to those who would otherwise struggle.A £10 donation will sponsor a box for 12 months.The initiative comes as research by the older people’s charity of its members across Scotland found that 57 per cent of those questioned have changed their eating habits due to the cost of living crisis - including some who have cut back on the amount of food they are buying.Some 51 per cent have changed the way they heat their homes to cut their bills because of rising energy costs and 42 per cent have done both.BOXtober also highlights the financial challenges that Food Train faces in keeping its life-improving services on-track, from maintaining its fleet of vans to ensuring volunteers receive all the support they need to carry out their lifeline work.The charity helps people aged 65 and over to eat well and live well in their own homes through their shopping delivery, meal making and befriending services.All money raised locally through BOXtober will go directly towards supporting older people in the region.Emma Black, Food Train’s National Fundraising and Marketing Manager, said: “Getting behind our BOXtober campaign is a simple way to help us make a remarkable difference to the lives of older people across West Lothian.“By doing so, you are helping to ensure our members can live