3Ls President's Charity
Every two years, the 3Ls President selects a charity close to their heart to sponsor and we aim to raise funds for a good cause. Members and friends are invited to join us for some fun fundraiser events along the way.
President's Charity
Courtyard Pantry
Our nominated charity during the course of 2022/23 was the Courtyard Pantry, based at Wester Common Drive, Glasgow. The Pantry is a membership based shop/deli that provides good quality food at a low cost.
Throughout the year we organised a number of events in support of this worthy cause and we were delighted to raise a total donation of £6,500 for the Pantry.
How did we raise the money?
A “buy forward” scheme was very successful - lots of members paid an extra £5 with their subscriptions.
We organised a programme of fundraising events, described on this page, some of which allowed members to see the Pantry, learn about the project, and meet the team.
Our clubs gave generous donations from funds, and there were also additional donations from individual members. Some of the Clubs’ speakers also donated their fee.
The Book Club kindly organised another Book Sale and although footfall was down on previous years, a very good sum was raised on the day.
At our AGM, President Winnie Mallon reported on the total sum raised and presented a cheque to Dale Todd, the Courtyard Pantry Managing Director who outlined how the funds raised had been distributed for the benefit of local people who are Pantry members.
To find out more about the Pantry, check out their website:
https://www.flourishhouse.org.uk/1020-2/
Women of Maryhill Canal Walk
Tuesday 7 March
A fascinating walk, led by guide Anabel Marsh, from Maryhill Burgh Hall via the Stockingfield Bridge gave us a chance to hear stories of Maryhill's women, including the heiress who gave the town her name, the mill workers immortalised in stained glass, the suffragette who attacked a post-box and the “wayward girls” who escaped.
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Southside Mystery Walk
Tuesday 21 February
On our second Mystery Walk we had a chance to explore a 2-mile route around Shawlands and Queens Park in the southside of the city and we solved a few clues about the area along the way.
Our efforts were rewarded with refreshments at the Sweet Tart tearoom where teams enjoyed a hearty choice of soups and cakes with a cuppa, all in support of the Courtyard Pantry.
Glasgow Times Community Awards
"I full of emotion, laughter and cheers that raised the roof of the City Chambers, Glasgow's incredible Community Champions were crowned.
The 2022 awards, organised by the Glasgow Times in association with Glasgow City Council, Wheatley Glasgow, Trades House Glasgow and Merck, paid tribute to the city's unsung heroes.
The Team Award went to The Courtyard Pantry, a vital community hub in Ruchill, which provides discounted food to locals, runs a welcoming café and helps local people get jobs and volunteering opportunities.
Co-ordinator Dale Todd said: "I am speechless, we never expected to win. So many people in this room have supported us, it's overwhelming."
Christmas Lunch at Toshie's
Festive fun and delicious food was the order of the day when some members of the 3Ls Walking Group visited the Courtyard Pantry's new cafe Toshie's. We enjoyed a delicious Christmas lunch prepared by Sharon and Laura from the Courtyard team.
Takeaway Treats
During October, the Pantry thanked the 3Ls for ongoing donations which had been used by the catering team to prepare and distribute around 800 ready meals over 3 to 4 weeks to members of the Pantry. These meals were prepared on site and were given away for free in addition to members' weekly shop.
Mystery Walk
Wednesday 12 October 2022
Intrepid teams of 3Ls members took part in a Mystery walk in support of the Courtyard Pantry on 12 October, exploring a fun 2.5 mile trail through the Claypits Nature Reserve, the Forth & Clyde Canal and some hidden corners of the neighbouring area.
Our Walk started outside the Courtyard Pantry and ended at the Charity's new premises, Toshie’s Café, on Garscube Road. Participants were set a challenge of solving a range of clues along the circular route which meant everyone worked up an appetite to enjoy home-made soup plus cakes with a cuppa at the café, before the solutions to all the clues were revealed by Trail Master Bill Kennedy.
Thanks are due to everyone who organised or took part in a fun day out in support of a very good cause and to Sharon and Laura of the Pantry team who delighted us with a selection of delicious home-made treats at the end of the trail!
Afternoon Tea at the Pantry
In support of this year’s 3Ls President’s Charity we held an Afternoon Tea on 7th July 2022. In advance of a delicious array of sandwiches, scones and cakes being served, there was an option to join a short walk to explore the nearby Claypits Nature Reserve and admire the superb view of Glasgow.
A fun afternoon was enjoyed by everyone, which included a chance to take part in some party games, including an Afternoon Tea-themed Bingo game!
About the Courtyard Pantry
The Courtyard Pantry is a community-driven project, operated by Flourish House. In 2016 we developed and opened our community café, in partnership with Queens Cross Housing Association, which serves as a meeting point in the heart of Wester Common, Northwest Glasgow. In response to the pandemic, we adapted the café to incorporate a food pantry and opened in March 2021.
During the initial phase of the crisis, our teams witnessed first-hand the hardship and challenges experienced by the local community as they struggled to access food, due to income reduction, shielding, health decline, isolation and fear. As we were uniquely placed at the heart of local food response, we felt we had to help, so building on our partnership with Queens Cross Housing Association and utilising our existing café, instead of closing this vital community hub, we reimagined our service to tackle food insecurity. We worked with volunteers and members of the community to provide over 5000 meals to local people who quickly found themselves in a vulnerable situation through the impact of the pandemic.
Our mission is to help tackle financial vulnerability by providing good food at low cost to the local community and create ‘Transitional Employment Placements’ (TEP’s) enabling members of Flourish House to experience paid employment, often for the first time, and supporting their journeys of recovery. We do this by working closely with like-minded organisations such as The Scottish Pantry Network and Queens Cross Housing Association to ensure that we benefit from the most up-to-date thinking and complement local responses to community challenges, which were exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.
(Extract from the Pantry website: