A volunteer-run Helensburgh lunch group is urging more people to help out as they warn the group may be forced to close.
Helensburgh Lunch Club has been a staple in the community and a lifeline for older residents since it opened over 40 years ago.
Each day requires a minimum of two servers, two people in the kitchen, and one person in charge of money – but the group needs more volunteers as many are elderly and have had to stop their work with the club.
Barbara Maitland, one of the club's few remaining volunteers, said: “If the volunteers weren’t there the club wouldn’t exist. There’s nothing but volunteers running the group.
“The people who attend are such a nice and interesting bunch of people, all with different jobs and backgrounds, and they have a good sense of humour.
“We need young people because some of us have been volunteering for many years and we’re all getting older.
“People have had to stop coming to help, but if we don’t get more volunteers the group will have to close.”
Around 20 volunteers are currently registered with the club and take turns helping at the lunches.
The club provides opportunities for residents to socialise and have a warm meal.
They hosted their Christmas lunch in the hall of the United Reformed Church in West Princes Street on Monday, December 18 – a highlight of the year for many attendees.
Barbara added: “They always look forward to the Christmas lunch and I think they all enjoyed it and went home happy.
“Everyone had a good time.”
The club provides lunches every Monday and Thursday, and also serves soup and sandwiches on Fridays.
Food is served at 12.30pm each day but attendees are welcome to come earlier to chat and enjoy a hot drink.
The club was originally set up by the late Billy Petrie OBE, in collaboration with the then minister of the town's Congregational Church.
Anyone interested in becoming a helping the group should pop down to one of the lunches and speak to the Barbara one of the other volunteers present.
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