Portsea Pantry

Why help Portsea Pantry?

Portsea is one the most deprived areas in Portsmouth, with over 60% of children who attend the local school in receipt of free school meals. Food poverty, and food insecurity is a real issue in this community -  so this is why we set up this local pantry which is run by volunteers that live in the area and want to help its community.

WE NEED MORE FUNDS FOR FOOD!

At the pantry we provide cupboard staples and fresh produce, many from fareshare but also purchase locally from local supermarkets to keep our shelves well stocked. People pay £5 each time they attend the pantry, for this they receive approximately £20 worth of food items, which helps significantly in this cost of living crisis where food insecurities are of concern, with many adults choosing to not feed themselves to ensure their children have a hot meal each day.

The pantry is much more than just a food pantry. 

Cindy a lady in her 30's  visited the pantry one week and told volunteers she was struggling with the cost of living and the high-rise cost of food. She attended a couple of times and disclosed to the volunteer she was suffering with her mental health due to a bereavement. She was asked if she needed other help rather than just food, she was really grateful and was happy to be referred by the pantry to the local mental health service for support. In addition, one of the volunteers  offered to help with her flat, as she felt she could not cope with getting things tidy.  This has massively helped this young lady who now has a more comfortable home to live in. 

Although people attend the pantry mainly to purchase fresh produce and food staples, it also gives people a chance to chat to other people living in the area as isolation is a factor in the Portsea.  Recently linked into the local authority wellbeing services, we are now able to offer advise from partners on fuel savings and debt management.

Please support us to support more local families who are struggling currently by donating today, we have been running for one year now and would like to continue our good community work in the Portsea area, so please donate today!