A local food pantry buys and collects surplus food and sells it to members at low cost - approximately £3.50 each week for 8-12 items. It reduces food waste and provides good value food. There are now 9 established pantries in Somerset listed below, with more opening soon. Run by the community for the community there are different ways you can get involved:
Join: To join your local pantry you will need to live locally and become a member (there may be a waiting list). You won't know what you will be receiving each week but its value will always exceed what you pay.
Volunteer: Support is always needed, e.g. collecting and receiving surplus food, running the pantry for members, writing recipes etc. Contact your local pantry to get involved.
Donate food: You can donate food items as a business or individual, contact you local pantry to discuss what you can offer.
Set up a food pantry: There is support available to assess for and set up a pantry in your community, as well as advice on grant funding. Please contact Helen Phillips 07557481418, thelocalpantry@somerset.gov.uk and find more information here.
Local Pantry details:
Chard Local Pantry: Friday afternoon, Chard Community Hub, 9 Fore Street, 07971 373831
East Bridgwater (Sydenham) Local Pantry: Weds afternoon at Sydenham Community Hub, EastBridgwater.Pantry@gmail.com
South Bridgwater (Hamp) Local Pantry: Weds afternoons at 2-3 Grenville House, thepantry.southbridgwater@gmail.com
Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Local Pantry: Friday afternoons at Morland Community Hub, hbos@gmail.com
Minehead Area Local Pantry: Tuesday afternoons at Parish Church of St Michael the Archangel, Alcombe, foodcupboardws@outlook.com
Best Before Food Store: Tuesday afternoon at The Well, Christian Centre in Rockwell Green, wellingtonpantry@gmail.com, Facebook
Rowbarton Local Pantry: Tuesday afternoons at Rowbarton Methodist Church, rowbartonpantry@gmail.com
Victoria Park Local Pantry: Tuesday 2:30-4:30pm at Victoria Park Community Centre, Tel 422 255 / info@vpcc.co.uk
Any leftover fresh food is taken to the Hub in Angel Place to be made into meals for the community and families who struggle with the cost of living. We also Foodshare with the other pantries, dependent on the need.
Westfield (Yeovil) Community Pantry: Friday 3.15pm - 4.15pm at St. Peters Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, https://westfieldcommunitycentre.co.uk/pantry/
Coming soon: Cheddar Local Pantry
More information on food pantries:
- Start-up advice - Your Local Pantry
- Surplus food supply - Fareshare
- Independent pantries also exist e.g. Love Glastonbury
We have created some simple healthy recipes in partnership with Love Glastonbury, they can be made from store cupboard ingredients using simple equipment.