Christmas Collection campaign launched

K107FM, Kirkcaldy’s award-winning community radio station, has teamed up with Love Oor Lang Toun to launch a ‘Christmas Collection’ campaign in support of Kirkcaldy Foodbank.

The initiative aims to provide vital support to local families during the holiday season.

Building on the success of the 2024 Christmas lights switch-on event, this year will feature ‘Lang Toun Lights’ on Kirkcaldy High Street on Saturday, November 29.

People attending the day-long celebration, which includes entertainment and a visit from Santa, will be encouraged to bring donations of essential items to help those in need.

Alex Airnes from K107FM said: “Local radio will often organise festive toy appeals, and we will actively see positive examples of this across the region. This year, we wanted to shine a light on the needs within our area and use the power of local radio to make a real difference.

“Based on the community feel of last year’s Christmas lights event, we wanted to expand on this and give people a chance to enjoy the festivities and support their community.”

Ryan Strachan, from Love Oor Lang Toun, said: “We are really happy to be working with Kirkcaldy Foodbank and K107FM. Lang Toun Lights is a free community event, and the Christmas Collection will immediately help the most vulnerable in society.”

Foodbank chair Angela Campbell said: "Kirkcaldy Foodbank was formed back in 2013 and sadly our services are required more than ever as the cost of living crisis continues.

“We are incredibly grateful to K107 and Love Oor Lang Toun for choosing us to be the focus of their Christmas campaign this year.

“The festive season puts additional pressure on families who are already struggling to make ends meet. Any support - both in collections of food and financial donations - is hugely appreciated.

“Kirkcaldy Foodbank works throughout the year, open five days a week in several premises across the town, to help those less fortunate in our community, but even with the fantastic support we receive, we are running at a significant financial deficit.

“Hopefully the publicity surrounding the Christmas campaign will help raise our profile and enable us to continue working to ensure that no-one in the Kirkcaldy area goes hungry.

"It is vitally important that we are able to keep supporting our local community."

The campaign will be supported by in advance of the collection day on November 29 with interviews, and on-air and social media support from K107FM who will be highlighting the items most needed by Kirkcaldy Foodbank.

There will be donation points at various points throughout the High Street during Lang Toun Lights with the public asked to bring donations while attending the festivities.

Kirkcaldy Foodbank will have volunteers present during Lang Toun Lights to assist with collections.

The campaign is designed to complement existing foodbank efforts, offering additional exposure and support during a time when the cost of living continues to impact many households.

There are also opportunities for local businesses to support the campaign, both with collections, donations and sponsoring promotional materials and printed campaign assets. To support or sponsor the campaign, contact K107FM at sales@k107.co.uk

More information on the work of Kirkcaldy Foodbank and how to donate food or make a cash donation can be found at kirkcaldyfoodbankcharity.org.uk

This Christmas, we’ll try to make sure that nobody in the Kirkcaldy area goes hungry and that everybody shares what they have.

From left: Alex Airnes, K107FM; Angela Campbell, chair of Kirkcaldy Foodbank: and Ryan Strachan, Love Oor Lang Toun.