GENEROUS people in the Wee County are being urged to support a vital foodbank as part of a continued appeal.

The Advertiser last week launched a summer campaign for The Gate Charity’s foodbank in a bid to ensure families struggling with the cost of living crisis do not go without the basics.

A bag will be inserted into the paper on August 7 and people will be urged to fill it to the brim with shelf-stable items to support the good cause in putting out some 50 food parcels a week.

Tinned meats, vegetables, pulses and beans as well as long-life milk – items with a long shelf-life which can be stored easily – are being sought by the good cause in general, which operates the foodbank on a strict referral basis from statutory agencies.

The foodbank started in 2010 to alleviate food poverty and donations are welcomed on an ongoing basis.

Anyone wishing to donate in the meantime can visit the-gate-charity.org/donations-urgently-required/ for the full details, including for deliveries.

The appeal is enjoying the generous sponsorship of a wide range of businesses and as it continues, the Advertiser heard from Allanwater Homes, which proudly got behind the initiative.

With its incredible ninth phase well under way at Oaktree Gardens, Alloa, Allanwater Homes has plenty of good news to share with the local community, including supportive sponsorships underway, and young people forging ahead with careers in property.

Along with continuing its local sponsorship of Tulliallan Golf Club, together with women’s rugby team, the Hillfoot Vixens, the housebuilder, one of Scotland’s leading independent names in the private housebuilding sector, has appointed Millie Stokoe as planning manager. She will be responsible for planning potential new developments.

“I’m really pleased to be working closely with the Allanwater Homes sales team,” said Millie.

“I’m learning a great deal every day, and am really enjoying the interaction with the Development Sales Managers, and our customers.”

Lynn McNair, who is development sales manager for Oaktree Gardens, welcomed Millie to the team.

“Millie will do very well here at Allanwater, as we are a close knit team with a fantastic selection of family friendly developments to sell.

"Oaktree Gardens has so much to offer. It’s very conveniently located, and over the years, has become a real community. We’re seeing some buyers who originally bought smaller houses in the earlier phases now moving up to larger ones in this current phase as they very much want to remain here.”

Said Lynn, who is from Falkirk, and used to run her own kilt making business: “The experience Millie will get her will really stand her in good stead in the new build sector.”

The same can be said for Lynn’s own daughter, Lauren, who joined Allanwater a few years ago as a development sales manager at Allanwater Chryston, near Glasgow, and is now making great strides in her property career. She too is enjoying selling Allanwater’s range of energy efficient new housing.

“I have thrived here at Allanwater, with my enthusiasm inspiring my own daughter to join the business too. With many years running my own business, I wanted a new challenge, but one that was still very client focussed.”

“Lauren wanted to get into property too, so I told her to go for it,” continued Lynn, “I’m pleased to say that she hasn’t looked back since she took on the challenge of Allanwater Chryston – it was Allanwater’s first move to the West of Scotland, so an unknown name at the time, but she has done brilliantly!”

With her background in fabric and design, Lynn has taken on the challenge of designing the interior of the new show home at Allanwater Chryston.

Said Lauren: “As we had a family business before, I was used to helping my mum out in the shop. Now I am delighted to be working with her again. She is doing an amazing design job with the new showhome at Chryston.”

“Becoming part of Allanwater Homes is a fantastic experience. I’m really pleased Millie has joined too– we want to see many get more young people getting involved in property!” added Lauren.

Lynn finished by saying: “Allanwater Homes is doing all it can to help local buyers at this time. At Oaktree Gardens, a superior ‘as included’ specification is available on all the properties in the current phase, including integrated white goods, rainfall showers, vanity units in the en-suites and main bathrooms, plus external sockets and cold water taps.”

“Allanwater Chryston has price reductions on selected properties.”

“Lauren and I would say to anybody looking for a home at the moment in any of areas in which we are building to come and visit us to see what we have currently available. We will do all we can to help them. Our family loves Allanwater Homes, and we think that your family will too!”

To find out more about Phase Nine of Oaktree Gardens, Alloa, please call development sales manager Lynn McNair on 07710 304483, Thursday to Monday 11am to 5.30pm.