A New Start
Local community charity OKFP celebrated the start of a new chapter as they opened the doors of the Napier Hall to the local community after giving the building a thorough revamp and facelift.
Maureen Cummings, founder of OKFP, said: “We closed the door on our Station Road Hub at the end of February – that marks three years of us being in the building.
“During those three years we’ve provided food to almost 30,000 people; worked with over 140 volunteers, creating jobs for seven of them thanks to funding secured mainly through West Dunbartonshire Council’s Working 4 U employability initiative.”
The charity’s new venue in Napier Hall is a larger space which can accommodate up to 60 seated customers in the Chatty Café area.
Maureen is delighted the building also has gas. She said: “We now have the luxury of central heating so we can continue to offer the space as a Warm Hub during the colder months.”
The organisation planned a phased opening to give them time to complete the complex work installing a new kitchen.
The free food pantry opened back on February 5 and the Chatty Café on March 4 and their first Fish Supper Friday of 2024 at the end of March sold out within 24 hours of the 60 tickets going on sale!
Maureen added: “It has been a difficult time for a lot of our regulars while we’ve been closed but unfortunately, we didn’t have the option of running the two premises at the same time.
“The OKFP team is looking forward to seeing all our regulars again and catching-up with all our visitors in this much-needed community space.”
Despite being busy with the renovation works OKFP found time to support a new community group starting up in the village.
Maureen explained: “We’re delighted to be partnering and supporting the new committee of OK Stay & Play who are providing an exciting new service for local children and families.
“They initially asked us for assistance to provide drinks and snacks for the children and teas and coffees for the parents and carers.
“We had offered this to the previous group, but the offer was never accepted, and we were therefore more than happy to help the new group out.
“We also provided the new committee with free office space in Napier Hall to enable them to meet privately.
“Going forward we will supply the group with snacks, fruit, and drinks free of charge to help keep running costs down.
“We are also helping them with the governance side of things to become a constituted community group with their own standalone bank account, and will be supporting them with a variety of funding applications to continue to develop their services.
“We’re looking forward to working with the group and developing a good working relationship together which will benefit children and families in the village and the wider community.”
If you need food support, a safe place to go for a chat or are interested in volunteering, visit OKFP in their new home at Napier Hall, 312 Dumbarton Road, Old Kilpatrick, G60 5JH or contact Maureen Cummings direct on 0791631080 or email the admin team at ok*********@gm***.com .
Donations can be dropped off at the hall Monday – Friday between 12 – 2pm.
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