Community pantry coming to Stockbridge and West Wellow
It's being backed by Hampshire County Council funding
Last updated 16th Oct 2023
A travelling community pantry service is to be expanded in the Test Valley.
Funding's coming in from Hampshire County Council’s Household Support Fund (HSF), to allow Test Valley charity Unity to grow the pantry into communities in Stockbridge and West Wellow.
Community pantries help provide members, a pay a weekly membership fee, with groceries at a lower cost than shops or supermarkets.
They can offer a variety of fresh, frozen and store cupboard items from week to week.
Overall the local authority's putting a total of £424,000 of support into a number of pantry services across Hampshire
Councillor Edward Heron, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services, welcomed the new pantry to the county’s network:
“As well as providing affordable weekly food shopping for their members, pantries are a friendly and safe space, creating an environment that encourages a feeling of inclusion and belonging.
“It is also heartening to approve discretionary grants for those pantries that applied for them, enabling them to offer extra assistance to their members to help with basic necessities.”