NEARLY six months on from opening its doors for the first time, the Frome Community Pantry has proved to be a big success in the town, say organisers Fair Frome, who are already looking at how to expand the new service.
The project enables people on low incomes to access low-cost food on a membership basis.
One of the key movers in this innovative project, is trustee of Fair Frome, Anne Hills. “Fair Frome is already well known in the town for providing the Food Bank, Food @ Five, the Furniture Bank as well as other services,” says Anne. “However, the aim of the pantry was always to provide something a little different and which answered a very specific need. From the reaction of everyone who has used this new service it has already proved to be a big success.”
Expanding services
The Community Pantry is situated where the Food Bank used to be based, just behind the Frome Town Hall. The pantry is currently open every Tuesday between 2pm and 4.30pm although Fair Frome said they are now actively considering expanding the days that the service is available. The Community Pantry is open to everyone in Frome who has a low income.
“It is necessary to apply for membership,” explains Anne. “However, this is simple and anyone can self-refer but if your household income is below £18,000pa then you will be given priority. Once accepted as a member, then your membership will last for six months and you will be entitled to have access to low-cost food. The membership fee is either £3 or £5 per week, but this then enables you to choose from a selection of store cupboard, fresh and chilled food as well as toiletries and cleaning products.
Lifeline
“The pantry can be an absolute life-line or a stop gap. It is just great to see that it already works for so many people.”
Anne says that it is during the six-month period that it is hoped that what the pantry can provide is to help users break the poverty cycle as hopefully members’ circumstances can change.
“Here at Fair Frome we aim to provide a great deal more than just that low-cost food,” says Lenka Grimes, senior coordinator at the organisation.
“We have a dedicated team of volunteers who are there to help members when they attend the pantry and they do more than just explain how the pantry system works. The team can listen, have a chat and signpost to other partner organisations like Citizens Advice, Mendip Credit Union, Health Connectors for help with all kinds of issues from budgeting and fuel payments to support with health issues.
“We make sure that members are made aware of all the help that is out there, including how to effectively reduce household bills. We also ensure that members are aware of Fair Frome’s other services such as Food @ Five, Holiday Lunches and the Baby Basics Bank. The local charity Purple Elephant Family Support will also be supporting pantry members by providing staff at sessions to help families with children through activities and signposting too.”
Fair Frome is currently looking at extending the membership of the scheme, as facilities allow. For anyone interested in finding out more, visit: https://fairfrome.org/community.
Fair Frome would like to thank the Somerset Community Foundation for their cost-of-living grant that enabled them to buy food for the pantry.
