Jackie Baillie visited St Augustine’s Church Hall recently to find out more about the support they are offering to members of the community.

Every Friday, volunteers take to the kitchen to serve up hot soup, a selection of sandwiches and other savoury lunch items as well as cake, tea and coffee.

The Community Soup initiative is free for anyone to attend although donations, if you can afford to make them, are welcome to help the project continue.

The Dumbarton constituency MSP dropped by earlier this month to find out more and was impressed with the popularity of the weekly initiative and the enthusiasm of volunteers as well as those attending.

She said: “It was a pleasure to visit St Augustine’s Church Hall for the weekly Community Soup event. I was heartened to hear of the efforts of the volunteers to ensure that local people are able to enjoy a hot meal and some company.

“This important initiative is needed now more than ever as the cost of living crisis is affecting everyone. I thank Rector Rev Heller Gonzalez and the wonderful volunteers at Community Soup for welcoming people week after week who may be struggling to get a hot meal otherwise or who are suffering from isolation. This is a real lifeline for them.”