Foodbank celebrates MBE for champion Milligan

HONOUR: Wilma Milligan receives her MBE at the Carrick Centre on Saturday (Image: South Ayrshire Foodbank)

An Ayrshire foodbank has congratulated a “dedicated” woman after being awarded an MBE for years of service to the community.

South Ayrshire Foodbank took to social media to praise Wilma Milligan, coordinator of the Maybole Hub, on being presented the honour from the Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran on 30 May.

Milligan’s work has led colleagues, who were in attendance to witness Saturday’s ceremony, to believe the title is “richly deserved” for someone they view with “kindness, compassion, and determination to help others”.

With 10 different foodbanks in the region, the Prestwick-native has become a key component for the organisation’s mission to support those struggling for necessities.

In heralding the occassion, a spokesperson from SAFB said: “Over the years she has given countless hours to supporting people experiencing hardship, helping at supermarket collections, raising awareness of the foodbank throughout South Ayrshire and always being willing to go the extra mile.

“Whether welcoming someone to a hub, organising collections, supporting volunteers or championing the work of the food bank in the community, she has made a real difference to the lives of so many people.

“We are incredibly proud to have Wilma as part of the South Ayrshire Foodbank family and it was wonderful to see her commitment, dedication and service recognise in this way.”

A  volunteer close to Milligan added that her modesty led the ceremony to take place at Maybole’s Carrick Centre, which operates as a foodbank, as opposed to Buckingham Palace or Holyrood House.

Milligan began her volunteering journey with the foodbank over 12 years ago following her retirement, becoming a driving force for the establishment of hubs in the region before being appointed coordinator at Maybole.

South Ayrshire Foodbank also operates hubs at locations such as Prestwick’s New Life Church, Tarbolton Parish Church, and Ayr’s Lochside Parish Church.

More information on the foodbank can be found here.