Our pantry exists to help remove the difficult choice between heating or eating, the choice families face between feeding their child or paying a utility bill, feeding their children or eating a decent meal themselves. We help to reduce food poverty and food waste and support those who are struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis. Why should someone who cannot afford to buy their food from a supermarket be given poor quality food or a pre chosen bag of food that may not even serve them or their dietary requirements. We offer our members the opportunity to choose the foods that they need, the essential items that their household requires and by making a small donation, can leave feeling like they are contributing and able to provide for themselves and their family.
We are the recognised pantry for our area, supporting 50 - 75 individuals and families each week with food and essential items.
Members can visit once a week, and we ask for a £5 donation per visit. For £5 they will receive food and essential items - that they can choose themselves - worth around £15, or often more. The payment makes sure that our pantry is sustainable - we cannot operate on donations alone, as well as reducing any shame or stigma individuals may feel about receiving free food. There is a limit to food items taken, this is based on household figures - a single person will naturally require less than a family with children.
Our pantry also stocks ‘free’ items which aren’t included in the total number of items allowed per visit. ‘Free’ goods include period items, and any donated fresh fruit and vegetables or bread.
With our pantry being heavily accessed we require extra funding to pay for the essential food items that are necessary to help individuals and families not only survive but live healthy lives. Just because someone can’t afford it, they should not have to go without fresh fruits and vegetables, or worry about feeding their children and going without themselves. We can benefit from the ability to bulk buy goods and get reduced prices per item - which many of our members would be unable to do.
Whilst we do receive generous donations from various local supermarkets - we often do not get fresh food - vegetables, fruit or fresh fridge goods. We pay for these items from money we have raised, been granted or had donated. We anticipate higher support figures the closer we get to Christmas and the deeper into winter we go.
When it comes to Christmas, we like to give a little extra and provide a full Christmas lunch for individuals and families. These Christmas lunches are on top of the regular pantry visits, so people receiving Christmas lunch packs will not go without their essential food.