A fleet of trucks was needed called in to deal with a “mountain” of goods collected by a school for a north-east homelessness charity.
Workers from the AWPR project stepped in to help out Aberdeen Cyrenians at the time of year they need it most.
Balmedie Primary School donated so much food last year that Cyrenians deputy chief executive Scott Baxter could not fit it all into his car.
He asked the nearby depot for the major road project for help to move the mountain of goods.
Planning ahead this year, he requested their assistance again and they happily agreed – even offering to dress up in Christmas elf outfits.
Mr Baxter said: “They sent six trucks this year and helped load them up and then off-load them at our centre in Summer Street. I simply could not have done it without them.
“This amount of food will keep us going for about a month – we rely on donations like this.
“This time of year can be very hard for people.
“With donations of food, money and sleeping bags we can try and make a difference.”
Providing hot meals for homeless people and also hot showers, the charity is open to anyone in need of help.
Mr Baxter added: “We are open now 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We will be open on Christmas Day and throughout the festive season – we have been doing this for 48 years.”
Mr Baxter has been working with the Cyrenians for more than 30 years after he visited as part of a work placement.
He said: “We do a lot of work with more complex mental health and domestic violence. We have specialist workers who attend all our sessions.
“The door is always open and at this time of the year it is all hands on deck.”
The Cyrenians Winter Appeal is almost half-way to achieving its target of £60,000 and asks that only a £5 donation could make a difference and buy a hot meal for someone over the Christmas period.
To make a donation please go to:
https://mydonate.bt.com/events/cyrenianswinterappeal/370831
