GD hero Martin helps feed families in need

Martin Dover, 17, is still at school but has found time to help prevent people from going hungry.

The sixth-year pupil at Mearns Castle High School, near Glasgow, helped older friend Joshua Fields provide meals for NHS staff at the peak of the pandemic. And the pair helped give international charity Go Dharmic their first foothold in Scotland.

Go Dharmic’s mission is to get nine million volunteers to lead social change campaigns in at least 50 cities globally by 2022. Their vision is: “Love all, feed all, serve all.”

Martin, who plans to study medicine when he leaves school, and Joshua wanted to provide as many hot meals as possible to NHS staff. But as the Covid peak subsided and numbers dropped off, they began to focus their attention on others who needed help.

Martin said: “We provided meals to most of the Greater Glasgow & Clyde hospitals but during the summer it began slowing down as we came out of the first wave so we looked at where else we were needed.”

Martin started as a volunteer and when Joshua stood aside as leader, the teenager stepped up. He now runs the entire operation – including a store facility, a Tuesday night food run to the homeless in Glasgow’s George Square and a food bag drop at the Govan Road School Campus, including St Saviour’s Primary, on a Thursday.

He added: “The impact Go Dharmic is having on the lives of the most vulnerable in Glasgow is immense. I am so proud we have distributed more than 50,000 meals to the homeless, needy families and NHS staff.

“Much more can still be done. If you have time, resources or the will to help others in our community, get involved to help make Glasgow hunger-free.”

Martin and Joshua began by asking restaurants and shops for meals to give away and now have big companies like Marks & Spencer, Morrisons and Greggs involved.

St Saviour’s Primary headteacher Brian Tracey said: “Martin’s drive and enthusiasm is inspiring and worthy of recognition. The project has been very well-received by our parents and the choice of either a meat or a vegetarian option has meant all of our families are included.

“This is extremely important as Govan has a very diverse and often disadvantaged population. St Saviour’s values this partnership and hopes that it continues to flourish.”

To donate or volunteer, contact glasgow@godharmicstag.wpenginepowered.com