Ayr Rugby Club have handed a cheque of more than £4,000 to Unity Grill after some excellent fundraising efforts.

During the pandemic, the club teamed up with Unity Grill to help them with their fight against food poverty in the local community.

To start their efforts of support, a group of volunteers from the club made food deliveries over the Summer and Christmas holidays.

More recently the team took on the Kiltwalk, where the Ayr Community Rugby Trust linked up with Unity Grill and held a joint Kiltwalk day.

All of the funds raised were split 50/50 between both the Unity Grill and Ayr Community Rugby Trust.

The combined total raised on the Kiltwalk was £9,246.64. This includes the 50 per cent top up courtesy of Sir Tom Hunter and the Hunter Foundation.

Ayr Community Rugby Trust Chairperson Paul Davidson said: “I think we can all be proud of the efforts that everyone put in for the Kiltwalk.

“Thank you to all our walkers and those who supported them, as well as to The Hunter Foundation for the 50 per cent top up.

“We are delighted to have teamed up with the Unity Grill and help raise funds for them to combat food poverty in our community.

“ These are tough times and we are delighted to play a role in supporting Unity Grill.”

Unity Grill’s Angela McNay added: “We are very grateful for the support Ayr Rugby and the Ayr Community Rugby Trust have given us.

“It’s been very much appreciated.

“Working together, we all had a great day for the Kiltwalk. Here’s hoping we can do it all again next year”.

Food poverty is a growing concern across the UK and Ayrshire is not immune to that. The numbers using the local foodbank are growing year on year.

At Unity Grill they want to offer a beautiful, welcome space where the local community can come and enjoy a meal, or just a coffee together.

Those profits will be used to help pay for a meal for those who cannot afford it. Unity Grill is not offering something for nothing.

Those in need can volunteer an hour of their time in return for a voucher, helping to restore some of the dignity food poverty takes away.

To find out more, or get involved, visit www.facebook.com/unitygrill

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