STILL Sport favorite Sanjev Kohli believes meals banks have evoked the Craiglang spirit in everybody – as folks throughout the nation come collectively to assist these in disaster.
The Scots actor, who performed shopkeeper Navid Harrid within the traditional BBC comedy, mucked in with volunteers on the Trussell Belief run centre in Bathgate, West Lothian yesterday.
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And Sanjeev reckons individuals are determined to assist unfold the texture good issue for the festive season.
The 51-year-old says: “There may be undoubtedly one thing of the Nonetheless Sport spirit about this place.
“You possibly can really feel it the second you stroll in as there’s a stunning heat environment with folks wanting to assist others.
“As a lot as everybody in Nonetheless Sport at all times slagged one another off, like Boabby the barman and Jack and Victor, they had been all there for each other.
“And each time any of them genuinely hit exhausting instances then they knew somebody would have their again. There was a help community round them.
“So it’s pretty to see a spot the place folks come simply to assist.”
Sanjeev joined the manufacturing line of workers and volunteers finding out meals parcels for the centre which helps feed over 1,000 folks a month.
And he joked: “Navid could be impressed by how a lot of the inventory remains to be in date – in contrast to the out-of-date sh**e he at all times bought.”
The entertainer, who performed Navid from 2002 till the BBC sequence resulted in 2019, was additionally readily available to greet members of the general public as they dropped off beneficiant donations.
They included retired civil servants John Hannah, 60, Janette Hannah, 61, from Armadale, West Lothian, who had been impressed to pop alongside after watching an episode of Nonetheless Sport the earlier night time involving Navid and his mysterious spouse Meena.
Janette says: “We had been laughing on the scene the place Meena has a dump.”
Sanjeev replies: “Sure, and I assumed I used to be making an attempt to flush away a useless rat – I acquired to do all one of the best scenes didn’t I?”
John provides: “We like to offer to the meals financial institution about as soon as a month. But it surely was very nice to return and meet Sanjeev as Nonetheless Sport is at all times humorous to observe.”
Social care coordinator Jane Stein, 54, from close by Broxburn, has been donating to the centre for 4 years.
However she admits: “It’s factor to do however it’s additionally turning into more durable to donate as a result of every little thing is so costly now. However I really feel it’s actually essential we nonetheless give what we will.”
Sanjeev says: “What amazes me is like Jane are nonetheless bringing in prime quality stuff, it’s not simply stuff they’ve cleared out of their larder.
“They’re going out their approach to purchase good high quality meals for folks. It actually does restore your religion in humanity.
Arlene Davidson, 41, Calvin McGarry, 16, had been making their weekly go to to gather meals parcels for Boghall Drop-in Centre charity in West Lothian.
Playgroup chief Arlene mentioned: “This place is a lifeline to so many individuals. It retains them going.”
Whereas Sky employees Adele Bonnar, 34, from Harthill, Lanarkshire and Sarah Hogarth, 46, from Livingston dropped off luggage of meals together with cash after a whip spherical by them and 20 of their colleagues.
Adele mentioned: “It’s good to suppose you’ll be placing meals in somebody’s stomach particularly at the moment of yr.”
Afterwards Sanjeev spoke about why he acquired concerned within the Trussell Belief which runs 121 meals banks throughout Scotland.
He says: “There may be one about 100 yards from my home within the west finish of Glasgow.
“With out entering into the politics of all of it, meals banks shouldn’t exist, however whereas they can we all want to assist.
“I do know exhausting working households are actually counting on them to feed their youngsters due to the present local weather.
“It’s completely heartbreaking to see. It doesn’t actually take a lot change in your circumstances in any respect to all of a sudden end up in want.
“However Scotland is the kind of society the place we wish to take care of folks after they fall on exhausting instances.
“I wore a beard and swore for a residing and did alright out of it. So folks like me, who’re doing okay, ought to try to do what we will.”
Sanjeev additionally entertained the employees by asking them Nonetheless Sport trivia questions earlier than revealing he desires to maneuver into crime drama after showing within the current Britbox homicide thriller Magpie Murders as Dr Kamal.
He says: “I’ve not achieved a interval drama earlier than however I acquired to put on a hat and every little thing.
“It has helped me rediscover my love of crime fiction as I learn loads of Agatha Christie after I was 9 or 10.
“There have been so many good movies as nicely. That’s what I might like to do subsequent – an Agatha Christie film.”
NUTS, BEANS & VEG ARE THE ORDER OF THE DAY
ALL this week we’re encouraging readers to help The Trussell Belief.
Readers can do that in 3 ways – by donating meals objects, donating money or donating their time as a volunteer.
And every single day we’ll be telling you what meals the organisation wants most.
Right here’s right this moment’s objects:
Tinned greens
Tins of carrots, corn or peas ensure folks have a dietary food plan. They are often added to sauces or used as a aspect dish, to verify bellies are full.
Lentils, beans and pulses
These assist to bulk up loads of meals and be certain that folks received’t go with out the important nutritional vitamins and minerals wanted for a nutritious diet.
Baggage of nuts
Over the festive interval, it’s nice to have one thing to snack on and nuts assist fill you up with out beinf too unhealthy.
To donate to the charity merely scan the QR code beneath or log onto trusselltrust.org/thescottishsun/
And to donate your time log onto trusselltrust.org/volunteer
And meals financial institution supervisor Kathleen Neilly, 43, insists Sanjeev’s go to was a fantastic morale enhance for her workforce.
She says: “Everybody loves Navid so Sanjeev has given all of the workers and volunteers a stunning enhance.
“We’ve a bunch of particular wants adults who volunteer each week for us they usually had been tremendous excited to return and meet him too – they left completely buzzing.
“It’s exhausting for everybody proper now however they’re nonetheless going the additional mile and the volunteers actually get pleasure from mucking in to get that meals sorted and out into the group to those that want it.”
Sanjeev added: “There may be loads of speak about communities being eroded however come right here and volunteer and you will notice that group spirit in motion.
“Everyone seems to be harm from the price of residing disaster, even those that thought they’d be immune from it, as nobody is aware of what their vitality payments will likely be subsequent March or April.
“However nonetheless they carry meals as a result of they’ve a real sense of what kind of group they wish to be a part of which is simply great to see.”
