Rothienorman substation providing support to foodbank
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The electricity substation at Rothienorman has been set up as a donation point for a foodbank.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Transmission and its principal contractor Siemens BAM have been working to provide extra support to local communities by assisting charity Aberdeen North Foodbank.
The charity was set up in 2017 to support people in the community by providing emergency food and toiletries to those in crisis, working to make sure that no one goes hungry.
In the run up to Christmas it found that its stocks were beginning to run low, so they made a local appeal for donations of food and toiletries.
Siemens BAM’s health and safety advisor at the Rothienorman substation John Owens saw the appeal and decided to rally his colleagues and organise a donation, set up a collection point on site and encouraged everyone to give what they could.
Mr Owens said: “The goods needed by these local foodbanks are items many of us could add to our own weekly shop, such as toiletries, canned meats, canned vegetables and fruits, cleaning products and pet foods.
“Once I set up the collection on site the team were quick to fill it up, I was so overwhelmed with the response that we have kept the collection going after the Christmas appeal, and we have been able to make another donation this month.”
SSEN Transmission’s project manager Craig Taylor said: “We have worked closely with the local community during the development of this project and this has carried on into construction.
"That is why when there was a need locally for support, we were keen to offer our help.
“Last year, over half of the people who had used a foodbank had never visited one before. We wanted to offer our support to help make sure there would be adequate supplies for those in need during these very challenging times.”
He added that while SSEN Transmission and Siemens BAM are only temporary guests in the area, during the substation build, it has been important to them to make sure they do what they can to give their continued support to the local community.
To find out more about Aberdeen North Foodbank and how to make a donation visit: https://aberdeennorth.foodbank.org.uk
