Our community lead Peoples Pantry began with one community fridge in 2019 at Repton Connect Community Centre.
Fun Fact: We are proud that we opened the first community fridge in Kent and the 65th in the UK! The aim of this was to reduce food waste and rescue food destined for destruction.
This then grew into a small food cupboard run by and for community members.
Following increased demand, we became a food bank during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We also provided support via innovative 24hr food lockers and a delivery scheme for vulnerable people.
Looking at a longer-term sustainable model to food insecurity we began free recipe bag schemes in 2020 and a community shop (social supermarket) in 2022.
We have grown to become one of Ashford’s main providers, supporting people experiencing food insecurity. We now support over 12,000 people per year. After an amazing fundraising campaign in 2022 we purchased an E-Van and our community shop sessions are now mobile, visiting rural locations with poor transport links. If you can’t get to us, we’ll come to you!
Categories:
Food banks
Basic necessities (food/clothes)
Additional needs catered for:
N/A
community fridge, free recipe bag schemes, community shop, supporting people experiencing food insecurity, mobile food shop, food bank