The lack of hot meals flags up the importance of lunch clubs, which are either having to increase their costs because of council cut-backs or, in the case of the ones at Forres and Elgin, being closed. These are important social gathering points for the elderly, too, and if the voluntary sector can strive to see if lunch clubs across Moray can be sustained, then it should be supported.

Money, of course, is in short supply, not just in the council's coffers but in the coffers of many of us, and the elderly are the most vulnerable in this situation.

One way elderly people, especially those with mobility problems, should be guaranteed help is by the idea raised this week of a Food Train, through which volunteers can assist with ordering and delivering shopping.

A survey by the Community First (Moray) charity highlighted the problems some elderly have in getting to shops and getting their messages home. Online ordering from superstores may be out of their reach. Smaller shops which at one time could be relied on to deliver no longer do so, which can leave pensioners, perhaps with no family or none readily at hand, with a real problem.

Moray folk are only too willing to open their hearts to those in need. The success of the Community First Handyperson Service, which sees volunteers help the elderly and housebound with jobs around the home, shows that - and it is proving an inspiration for the Food Train to operate here too.

Going to the shops is something we take for granted, but for some it is a problem, and we should be prepared to back any efforts and to volunteer help towards making our elderly feel wanted and to live independently at home.

Callous thieves

IT never fails to amaze how low some people will stoop. This week we have two incidents that further test our limits of amazement.

A thief walked into the Elgin Youth Café and snatched an X-box game, and a giant whisky bottle containing more than £200 for a dance for senior citizens, and an RNLI collecting tin, were taken in a break-in at Lossiemouth FC Social Club.

It is hoped the culprits are caught and punished, and anyone who has information on either crime should not hesitate about contacting the police.

Another important message that goes out is that decent people won't be beaten by despicable actions like this. A local business has already replaced the X-box game, and the Lossie FC Social Club has, despite the damage done in the course of the break-in, pledged that the party for pensioners will still go ahead. No doubt local people, disgusted by the theft, will be prepared to rally round to make this possible.

The responses are heart-warming and show that good can come of bad. If the thieves are caught they should be made to pay, not through their pockets but through some form of service to the communities they are harming.

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