Volunteers have been able to buy personal protective equipment, deliver toilet roll to vulnerable people and expand a community larder thanks to new funding.
Groups across the north-east have been been able to reach more people due to the Aberdeenshire Community Resilience Fund.
Grants of up to £2,000 for community resilience work are available to those in the community working to help others.
In Marr, the Mid Deeside Community Trust volunteers are helping with essential shopping and prescription collection, dog walking and befriending.
The trust has applied for funding to help maintain its minibus and buy PPE such as gloves and hand sanitiser.
In the Mearns, meanwhile, elderly and vulnerable people living in and around Stonehaven have received hand sanitiser and toilet rolls thanks to Stonehaven and District Roundtable and A&I Taxi Company’s joint application to the fund.
And a free community larder in Johnshaven and Benholm has been bolstered with fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs using money from the fund.
Bruce Stewart, Kincardine and Mearns area manager, said: “I have been absolutely delighted with the response shown by the communities in Kincardine and Mearns to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is a pleasure to provide assistance to these fantastic individuals and worthwhile community organisations in ensuring the vulnerable and those in self-isolation receive the assistance they require.”
Each of the six areas in Aberdeenshire will have a £20,000 allocation, with the £80,000 balance being available to the whole of Aberdeenshire to be administered by the chairman of the Community Resilience and Partnership Workstream.
To sign up for funding, visit www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/communities-and-events/funding/community-resilience-covid-19.
