Food Redistribution Charities in Hastings – Spotlight on The Pantry
EDWINA HUGHES and ERIN WARD
In Britain’s current cost of living crisis, many families struggle to afford the basics including food. This has meant that, over the past 15 years, we have seen a huge rise in the number of food banks operating in the UK. In 2010, for example, the Trussell Trust, which runs the Hastings Food Bank, had 35 food banks, whereas now they run over 1,700 food banks, with a further 1,200 running independently.
There are a number of food redistribution organisations currently operating in Hastings, including Hastings Food Bank, Dom’s Food Mission and Surviving the Streets.
I spoke to Kirsten Dunham, manager of the Pantry, to find out more about their work.
The Pantry is a food redistribution charity that runs on a membership model. It serves people living in food poverty in Hastings and St Leonards. To join, you need to visit in person on a Tuesday or Friday between 10am and 1pm, bringing proof of address with you as well as proof of benefits or proof of low income. To activate your membership, you are asked to make a £3 donation.
Kirsten and the team are often dealing with a waiting list of potential beneficiaries, but they will do their best to help you the same day so that you can walk out with a food parcel. In an average week, The Pantry will serve between 60-70 people. This might include someone who has become unemployed, whose life circumstances have suddenly changed or who simply needs a bit of support with their household food needs.
Once you are a member, your £3 donation gets you a food package that includes all the basics – longlife items like tinned pulses, veg and meat, toiletries like shower gel or shampoo, fresh fruit and veg and bread. Kirsten estimates the food package is worth at least £15.
Many of us don’t expect to need the services of these organisations, but when we do, they are there. In terms of the difference it makes, Kirsten put it perfectly:
“When you see someone come in, and maybe they’ve just lost their job and they feel ashamed, there is no judgement here; it’s a happy place to visit, they are delighted. To see that change in a person – it makes me glow.”
If you want to help The Pantry, you can donate items like longlife food and toiletries to them. You can do this at Morrisons or ESK (just ask at the till where to put your purchased donations) or you can bring your donations directly to The Pantry on a Tuesday, Thursday or Friday 10am–1pm. If you want to make a donation but are unsure what to give, Kirsten tells me the items most in demand are nappies, tinned corned beef and toiletries.
For more information about The Pantry visit etcsussex.weebly.com/the-pantry.html
Address for donations: Dorset Pl, Hastings TN34 1LG
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