The People’s Pantry is a welcoming community service in Ashford, Kent, dedicated to reducing food insecurity and food waste.
Started in 2019 with Kent’s first community fridge, The People’s Pantry has grown to support over 12,000 people each year. We offer a range of services to help those in need, including:
- Community Shop (Social Supermarket): Access affordable groceries at our beautifully fitted shop, open Monday to Friday, 10am–11am. Weekly shop price: £8 (card payments accepted).
- Food Bank: Support for individuals and families facing food insecurity, especially during challenging times.
- 24hr Food Lockers & Delivery Scheme: Innovative solutions for vulnerable people who cannot visit in person.
- Mobile Community Shop: Our E-Van brings groceries to rural locations with poor transport links—if you can’t get to us, we’ll come to you!
- Free Recipe Bag Schemes: Promoting healthy eating and cooking skills since 2020.
We are proud to work with partners like Metrobank, Fareshare, Ashford Hygiene Bank, and InKind Direct. Our mission is to make sure everyone in our community has access to good food and support.
How to access: Visit us at Repton Connect Community Centre, or contact our Food Team for more information. No referral is needed—just come along during opening hours or reach out if you need delivery or locker access.
Cost: £8 per weekly shop. Some services (food bank, recipe bags) are free for those in need.
Eligibility: Open to anyone experiencing food insecurity in Ashford and surrounding rural areas.