Asda steps in to help Gordon Rural Action
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THE Asda Foundation has thrown a lifeline to Huntly's advice and information service, Gordon Rural Action.
A £13,500 grant from the supermarket's community fund will help to pay for desperately required building works at the charity's Bargain Box outlet.
Michelle Gunn, the store's community champion helped GRA with the application process and returned last week with store manager Linda Morrison to see what the money would be used for.
The grant to GRA was one of 60 totalling £750,000 awarded by the Asda Foundation.
The two women were also given a tour of the operation by Emma Selway-Grant, chief officer and Laura McNeil, fundraiser.
Afterwards Ms Morrison said: "I had no idea so much was going on at GRA. Its' terrific work that you are doing for the community."
There have been long running issues with roof leaks at Bargain Box and while these have largely been addressed, there is a legacy of damp and crumbling ceilings internally.
The Asda, grant, from a fund specifically for repair and renovation projects will mean that the ceiling can finally be repaired.
Some of the cash will also be sued to paint the outside windows to preserve them.
Mrs McNeil said: "Our Bargain Box team do a great job and work really hard but with the ceiling hanging down and damp patches, it's just not conducive to a nice shop environment. It will be amazing to have a warm, leak free environment for them to work in. Without thsi grant we did not have the money for the repairs."
Demand for GRA's core services and associated projects continues to grow.
In the year from April 2021 to March 2022 the total amount secured for clients as a result of benefits and grants advice was £316,738.97. In April and May this year the figure had already reached £114,223.
An Aberdeenshire Welfare Rights officer is soon to be based at GRA in addition to the organisations's own three advisors.
The baby bank has seen a 100 per cent increase in requests and in May gave out 298 items. In the same period the school uniform bank 54 items.
Asda is working with GRA to stock the school uniform bank.
Michelle said: "Many families are struggling with the cost of living increases and will possibly struggle to buy brand new uniform. I am asking folk to not throw out any perfectly good school uniform items and instead wash them, bag them up and drop them into the Huntly store and we'll forward them onto GRA to help families."
