The Local Pantry

The Local Pantry, East Bridgwater, was developed by Homes in Sedgemoor customers Lewis and Pauline Hayes with the aim to stop food going to waste, while providing low-cost shopping for members for only £3.50 a visit. 

Deborah, a user of the Pantry, said:

“The pantry really supports my family and the people here are great; I can’t speak highly enough of them all. The food is affordable, and my children enjoy it and get to try new foods.”

Lewis, Pauline, and the other volunteers at the Pantry wanted to give back to their community and help those in need of food and various supplies. The pantry began 18 months ago and started with 30 people registered to receive food parcels. This has now increased to 50.

Everyone at the pantry is really pleased to see how it has progressed to offering other services and information to support people during and following the pandemic.

There is a monthly cooking demonstration using the food from the bags, and COVID-19 vaccinations and the Citizens Advice Bureau attend every first Wednesday of the month. The Pantry is also looking to work with local PCSOs to attend more regularly.

The couple spends most of their week ensuring their community in Sydenham can receive fair packages of food by collecting food from local Co-op stores, working with the Morrison’s community champion, organising a weekly raffle or tombola, texting registered customers weekly to remind them to collect their food at The Pantry, and managing the waiting and emergency supplies lists. 

Lewis said:

“We will never turn anybody away and The Pantry has provided food for people in a crisis for up to 18 months now.”

The Sydenham Pantry work with local Foodbank as they refer local customers to each other. They have also established great working connections with the Foodbank and have joined the Food Resilience Group.

The Pantry now has 14 other local volunteers who have pulled together and handed out food to many people in their community.

If you are struggling and would like to learn more about The Local Pantry Sydenham, please contact them today by sending them a direct message to their Facebook page.