SCHOOLCHILDREN are being urged to donate food to the poor and hungry.

Compassionate taxi bosses are laying on free uplifts from schools to a food bank.

Private hire firm Johnstone TOA, which is based at the Renfrewshire town's railway station, has told local schools it's prepared to taxi parcels to the Renfrewshire Food Bank in Paisley.

Taxi bosses already offer free deliveries for customers and free transport to and from the food bank for volunteers who live in the area.

Debbie Anderson, general manager of Johnstone TOA, said: "We are delighted to continue and increase our support for Renfrewshire Food Bank and hope schools in Johnstone take full advantage of our free school delivery service.

"Transporting food supplies from Johnstone to the charity's warehouse in Paisley can be off putting to some schools.

"Therefore, we decided to introduce a free service, which makes it easier for schools to donate."

Food Bank chiefs are delighted: manager Roslyn McVeigh said: "I would like to give my warmest thanks to everyone at Johnstone TOA.

"Their support over the past eight months has been truly fantastic.

"We greatly appreciate the efforts of Debbie and the team in raising awareness of our services and hope the schools in Johnstone make full use of this service."

Its launch coincides with the Evening Times Food for Thought campaign. We want to see a more co-ordinated approach to food banks and every effort taken to remove the stigma attached to them.

Taxi bosss say there was a "marked" increase in deliveries to the Renfrewshire Food Bank during the summer and believe it was a direct result of our campaign raising public awareness of the every day struggle facing those suffering real hardship.

Debbie said: "The Evening Times' Food for Thought campaign is such a worthwhile initiative and does a great job in raising awareness for local food banks.

"We definitely experienced a rise in deliveries over the summer months and hope this pattern has been mirrored at food banks throughout the Renfrewshire and Glasgow area."

Renfrewshire Food Bank is part of a national network of more than 260 banks run by the Trussell Trust. It has distribution centres in Paisley, Johnstone and Erskine and feeds hundreds of locals every week. Every client is given enough food to last at least three days.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk