A new Food Pantry for Tarleton & Hesketh Bank

Last year we opened a Food Pantry in Banks, and this has served the people in the village with a choice of food and access to our other services.

A Food Pantry is not an emergency foodbank, like the ones we run at 6 locations in Southport. It is a membership club for those ‘just about managing’ for whom the cost of living crisis is realy affecting their household income. For a donation of £5 each time they shop, people access over £20 worth of foods including fresh vegetables, frozen items and store room essentials.

A key part of the Food Pantry is the supportive and welcoming atmosphere and the tea, coffee, biscuits and extras. The well trained volunteers and staff from Compassion Acts are godo at listening and signposting to other services. Our own benefits and debt advice services. There are seasonal opportunities to provide other support for Pantry Members too.

We are partnering with Tarleton Methodist Church on Church Road, PR4 6UP to open the Food Pantry on Tuesdays (day and time to be confirmed). We are refurbishing a room and kitting it out as a shop. Various risk assessments are being done and the training

Once that is done, we can move to starting the project. All being well, this should be before the end of 2023

Volunteers Needed

Could you help us? We need people for the re-stocking of the shop, organising deliveries, welcoming members and making teas. There are lots of roles. Application forms can be found on our website. www.compassionacts.uk/volunteer

Support us in other ways?

I know there are so many pressures on people in terms of fundraising, so if this is impossible for you, please do still support us in other ways. However, It has cost us in excess of £3000 to set up the physical space at Tarleton Methodist Church and we will also need to stock the shelves. Any donation, small or large is so appreciated.

We are also looking for good local information about potential suppliers of milk, bread and donated fruit and vegetables. So your ideas would be most welcome. Contact Vicki at our office if you have any suggestions.