A DUMBARTON schoolgirl has received an award from a foodbank for her fundraising efforts.
Ava Murphy, six, has been helping Food For Thought, a charity in West Dunbartonshire that provides emergency food aid five days per week, raise money while also providing donations since last year.
With help of mum Julie, The Knoxland Primary pupil has used a variety of different methods to generate money for the foodbank, including selling stories she has written and pictures she has painted.
"Ava did her first bit of fundraising last year," Julie said. "She painted pictures and sold them to raise money.
"We recorded her telling jokes and sold them, sending the clips out to all our friends and family.
"She has also been writing stories and selling them to people to raise money.
"We did a raffle for Food for Thought and sold all the numbers for that to buy toys that we donated last Christmas."
Charlene Gold, business and operations administrator at Food For Thought, says there has been a sharp rise in those using foodbanks in the area over the last 12-18 months due to the cost of living crisis.
She detailed how there have been many instances where parents have come into the foodbank concerned about feeding their children.
"There has been an increase in demand for the service over the last couple of years from the general public, social workers, support workers and community links workers," she said.
"I have had people walk by and say ‘my neighbour is elderly and they do not have much but they are too proud to come ask for help, would it be okay if I picked up a bag and gave it to them?’
"Some people are housebound and can’t get to the foodbank in the first place.
"We have parents coming in who are focused on their children having something to eat, which is completely understandable, but they also need to make sure they are eating."
The award given to Ava is a first for the charity and Charlene says all the staff and volunteers were keen to recognise her achievements.
"We thought with the number of ideas that Ava comes up with to raise funds, we thought she should be recognised for it," she added
"She has a big heart at such a young age, and she is a wee star in the making."
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