A Perth takeaway will empty its till into Perth and Kinross Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre’s coffers next week.
North Methven Street fast food outlet Must Eat will donate an entire day’s takings to busy charity RASAC PK.
Management are working in partnership with Perthshire Welfare Society to raise funds for RASAC PK and will donate whatever their income for the day is in a week’s time.
In response to the current pandemic, RASAC PK been forced to cease all face-to-face support since mid-March.
The crucial service has continued to provide support services remotely via telephone, email and online video link.
Bosses say Must Eat’s fundraising effort will raise vital support for the charity, which last year supported 311 survivors in Perthshire.
In support of the work carried out by the centre, the food outlet will be donating all proceeds from orders made between the hours of 4pm and 11pm on July 7.
The generous local business, who have been involved in a number of free food projects over the past year, will also be accepting donations of essential items between now and Tuesday such as hand sanitiser and cleaning items. All donations handed in to the shop will be passed onto RASAC PK.
RASAC manager Jen Stewart said the charity is “incredibly grateful” to both Perthshire Welfare Society and Must Eat.
She said: “This has been a challenging and very busy time for the organisation and we are anticipating an increase in referrals in the coming year.
“We are aware of the impact that lockdown has had on many of those affected by trauma. There has been a significant impact on mental health and isolation with so many of the coping strategies survivors use no longer available to them.
“We are also aware of the increased risks to women and children at this time who are not in a position to access support services for a variety of reasons. We want women and young people to know that we are still here, just operating a little bit differently.”
Must Eat manager Laeeq Rehman said the move is about being a part of the community and hopes it could help tackle stigmas about attitudes to sexual abuse.
He said: “We’ve been doing food for care homes and homeless hostels. That’s beginning to calm down now.
“I know one of the people who works at RASAC and they said the charity are short on some essentials.
“Being from an Asian background, some people think we don’t talk about issues like rape and sexual abuse. We do, we care and we want to help.
“We’re asking other restaurants to pitch in too. We can all do something.”
