Salisbury Pantry pauses membership as demand soars
Social supermarket seeking to boost supplies to cope with demand
Last updated 17th Oct 2022
A dedicated 'social supermarket' which helps people access low cost food has had to pause its membership due to soaring demand.
Your Salisbury Pantry run by the City Council's Communities Team opened on Catherine Street in April 2021 and for the first 6 months were providing around 35 to 45 households a week with a low cost shop.
Figures for last month show it's now helping double that, with around 90 members shopping each week.
Pantry members pay £5 for their shop and their shop is worth an average of £20 to £30.
Sarah Gregson is the City Council's Communities Manager;
“The good news is that we have been able to help support 649 people in the last month, including 283 children. It is a privilege to support all those people in balancing the demands on their income and now we need to rise to the real challenge of keeping up with demand."
Residents and businesses are being urged to help the facility reach out to more people this winter by donating food, helping with a collection or joining the pool of volunteer drivers.
Anyone that can help is urged to contact salisburypantry@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk or call 01722 417100
Food Donations to the Pantry can currently be made at the Bemerton Heath Centre Pinewood Way, SP2 9HU and Your Salisbury Pantry on Mondays from 10am – 1pm or Tuesdays from 3 – 4pm or by arrangement by calling the number above.