Wellington scheme to stop people going hungry and food waste

There's a volunteer open event on April 26

Paula Appleby is behind the new Wellington-based support service
Author: Andrew KayPublished 10th Apr 2022

Another Somerset-based food pantry is planned to help struggling families and stop food going to waste.

The team behind the new Wellington Best Before Food Store are holding a volunteer open evening from 7.30pm on April 26 at The Well, Rockwell Green Christian Church for those interested to find out more.

It is hoped the service will be up and running in the Summer.

Co-founder Paula Appleby said: "These pantries help people to come into food security by providing food that will be surplus to requirements to be recirculated into the community at a very low cost.

"It's a membership scheme where people that join will pay ÂŁ3.50 a week and for that they would get probably between ÂŁ15 and ÂŁ20 worth of food.

"Alongside that. that's a core service that we're going to provide.

"It's our intention and vision to build community so alongside the provision of the food we will be providing social space, children's activities, signposting to other wraparound services.

"In these economic times it's getting really, really difficult and people are finding it increasingly difficult to make their budgets go a long way.

"That's part of it but anybody can join the scheme so it's not just for those on a low income. The second reason is environmental, it's to make sure that we use surplus food that would otherwise go to waste and make it get to the people that really need it."

For more about the Somerset local pantry scheme in Rowbarton and more about the differences between pantries and food banks click here

For more details email Paula via wellingtonpantry@gmail.com

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