Community food pantries across Rochdale are helping hundreds of residents cut their shopping bills while also offering vital emotional and financial support.
A network of community-run food pantries in Kirkholt, Smallbridge and Freehold has helped local families save more than £128,000 on groceries in the past year.
The "Your Local Pantry" scheme allows members to access £20 worth of food for just £4 every week. Around 200 members across the three estates are currently signed up, making weekly savings that ease pressure on household budgets.
However, the initiative is offering far more than food.
Run by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) and supported by a team of volunteers, the pantries also provide hot meals, energy vouchers and wellbeing support. In the past 12 months, members have received £21,266 worth of energy savings through vouchers and £12,000 in nutritious cooked meals, provided through a partnership with catering students from Hopwood Hall College.
Amanda Newton, chief executive of RBH, said the pantry project plays a crucial role in tackling social isolation and mental health issues as well as hunger.
“Our pantries are a great example of people coming together to improve each other’s lives,” she said. “They are helping to strengthen our communities and have a genuinely positive impact. One of our regular visitors told us that before the pantry opened, she never saw anyone. Now she comes in for a cuppa and a chat every week.”
The RBH team and volunteers have also dedicated time to helping other neighbourhoods across the borough set up similar pantry schemes, sharing their expertise to support wider food access.
Zahida Bashir, RBH's Pantry Services Manager, encouraged anyone struggling to come forward for support. “We know times are tough, especially at this time of year,” she said. “If you’re struggling, please come and see us, no one should suffer in silence. We’re here to help.”
None of the support provided would be possible without help from local businesses and residents who donate food, personal care items, cleaning supplies and time. Volunteers gave more than 2,300 hours to the pantry programme this year alone.
The first pantry opened in Kirkholt in 2016. All three now operate every Thursday between 10am and noon. Anyone living on the estates is welcome to join the scheme.
For more information or to sign up, visit: www.rbh.org.uk/how-we-can-help-you/your-local-pantry/
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