Dozens received emergency food vouchers

DOZENS of disabled people in the Stewartry benefitted from emergency food vouchers in winter, thanks to a special cost of living crisis initiative. DG Voice, a region-wide disabled people organisation, handed out fifty £50 supermarket vouchers to families in need. The charity received a £2500 grant from Dumfries and Galloway Council’s tackling poverty and inequalities fund last year, and immediately ploughed the money into this ‘Making Ends Meet’ emergency food scheme. After advertising that vouchers were being offered to people struggling to make ends meet, DG Voice received pleas from numerous “desperate” people on the breadline. The organisation stated: “Between November 2024 and March 2025, we advertised that we had received further funding to help people in need with food vouchers. We mainly targeted the holiday period running up to Christmas as this was identified as the highest period of need. “We handed out a maximum of three shopping vouchers per person and verified their disability and eligibility. We also signposted people towards other help, services, and benefits advice for income maximization, as we knew that our help was only a short-term measure during an emergency. “Most people who contacted us for support were desperate and had run out of food and money. People would often call or email late at night or during weekends after having tried other options to get help. “Being able to offer supermarket shopping vouchers from Morrisons, Tesco, or Aldi based on need and local availability gave them quick access to food. “In the Stewartry, we gave out 50 vouchers to 23 people/families and estimate that roughly 52 people benefitted from the help.” As with all such grants that are approved in the Stewartry, recipient organisations are expected to report back on how the money was spent and how it impacted communities. A report was has been produced for Stewartry area committee, which councillors will discuss next Wednesday. It details how nearly £20,000 was split between DG Voice and eight other organisations as follows: Castle Douglas IT Centre – £5625; Castle Douglas Development Forum – £2500; Castle Douglas Community Centre Development Trust – £515; Kirkcudbright Development Trust – £3750; Glenkens Community Arts Trust – £2357; Dalry Community Properties Trust – £1165; Better Lives Partnership – £400; and the Resonate Project – £1000.