Pan Together – the charity which exists to support and provide a community hub for the residents of East Newport – is opening its new community larder for the first time on Friday 4th November 2022 from 12 noon until 3pm.
What is Pan Together?
Pan Together is a membership-based group, where members have a say and elect trustees annually to oversee the charity’s management, strategy and policy.
The residents of Pan, Pan Meadows, Barton and Fairlee will be able to visit the larder on becoming members of the charity.
How it works
Membership is free, just as weekly access to the larder for two shopping bags of goods per household will be free at least until the end of the year.
From the new year, there is likely to be a small charge. Donations towards the cost of the stock will be welcome on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis.
Open twice a week
Going forward, the community larder will be open from 12 noon until 3pm each Tuesday and Friday.
Thomson: No one should face going hungry
Rachel Thomson, Community Centre Manager, said,
“No one should face going hungry. No one should have to choose between food, fuel and children’s clothes.
“The Pan Community Larder will provide direct and vital support to local families and households in these grim, tough and challenging times when the cost of living crisis is biting so very hard for so many.”
Thomson: 160 per cent increase in requests for food-related support
She continued,
“Our community larder has been made possible thanks to significant capital funding from The Isle of Wight Foundation – and a raft of other kind and generous grants and donations from companies and individuals which have helped us to stock the larder with fresh, frozen, tinned and dried goods and other household essentials.
“Sadly, Pan Together’s community support and anti-poverty services are becoming increasingly essential and provide a real lifeline to so many vulnerable and marginalised local people.
“We’ve seen a shocking 160 per cent increase in requests for food-related support in the period from July to the end of September 2022 compared to requests from October 2021 to June 2022.
“If anyone wishes to donate goods or, indeed, money to keep the larder and our other support services up and running, please contact me on 01983 248 170; email [email protected]; or contact us via our website (www.pantogether.org.uk) or Pan Together’s Facebook page.”
What is Isle of Wight Foundation?
The Isle of Wight Foundation is the charitable organisation made of the partners behind Island Roads.
Each year it awards grants of between £3,000 and £16,000 to good causes working to tackle social exclusion on the Island.
Gillespie: We’re sure it will make a positive local impact
Chairman Rob Gillespie said,
“We thought the idea of a community larder was both an excellent and timely one.
“We are sure it will make a positive local impact and we are delighted to support the great work of Pan Together.”
Other supporters
In addition to the substantial capital grant from The Isle of Wight Foundation, the Pan Community Larder has been supported by Fidelity International; the Department of Work and Pensions via Isle of Wight Council’s connect4communities scheme; a Magic Little Grant through the partnership between Localgiving and Postcode Society Trust; an M&S Gifting Grant via the Neighbourly funding platform; the TK Maxx and Homesense Foundation; and a number of private donations.
News shared by Rachel on behalf of Pan Together. Ed
Image: East Cowes Community Pantry – used for illustrative purposes © Community Spirited
