Aberdeen-based companies Caber Coffee and Thistle Couriers have been thanked for their efforts to help communities affected by the recent floods.
In the immediate aftermath of Storm Frank, Caber Coffee managing director Findlay Leask spearheaded a social media campaign to offer practical assistance to affected communities on Deeside, with Ewan Ferguson and the team at Thistle Couriers quickly adding their weight to the project.
Numerous other local businesses and individuals followed suit with donations and offers to act as collection points and, what started as an attempt to fill one Thistle Couriers van with donated items, resulted in a fleet of nine vehicles being filled and sent to help.
The campaign has now received thanks from Aberdeen South MP Callum McCaig who commented: “It has been heart-breaking to see people’s lives devastated by damage to their homes and livelihoods after the recent flooding across the North East.
“The only positive to come from these events has been witnessing the wider community of Aberdeen city and shire coming together to help those affected by the floods. I am proud that business owners in my constituency were quick to volunteer their help and assistance where they could.
“Caber Coffee and Thistle Couriers are a great example of local businesses doing the right thing and they should be proud of themselves too.”
Caber Coffee managing director Findlay Leask added: “Firstly my heart goes out to anyone who has been affected by the recent floods. Living in Kintore and working on the banks of the Dee has allowed me to see, first hand, the devastation that the torrent of water has had on almost every community across the North East.
“As we watched events unfold in Ballater I took to social media to ask how our donation of coffee, tea, hot chocolate and sundries could be delivered. The following 24 hour period was incredible and I simply couldn’t believe the generosity being shown.
“My thanks go to everyone that has come forward in the hour of need and I would also like to praise the many volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to help rebuild the lives of those affected.”
Thistle Couriers managing director Ewan Ferguson added: “Having seen a request from Findlay on social media to deliver coffee to the affected areas of Deeside we immediately wanted to help. The outpouring of goodwill was quite overwhelming to say the least and, by the end of the following day, we had sent nine van loads of goods filled with an assortment of items ranging from Findlay’s coffee to food donations and clothing and blankets that members of the public dropped off at our depot in Tullos Aberdeen.
“I am sure Findlay will agree when I say that our businesses rely upon the people in our community throughout the area, we couldn’t just sit by and do nothing when the people of Deeside needed someone to help them. We did what we could, as have so many others since this tragedy struck, and it warms my heart to think that in today’s society everyone can still manage to come together to help each other.”
