Welling community pantry provides friendship and support

A Salvation Army church in London recently changed its food bank to a community pantry to provide a wider choice of food to the low-income families and individuals it supports. 

The church in Welling has over 50 people signed up to its community pantry, which opens every Friday and operates on a membership basis. People pay £5 per use and for this they get to choose three higher priced items (e.g meat and dairy), seven lower priced items (fruit, veg, toiletries, household cleaning products) and they can also choose five free items from a selection of books, crafts, clothes, and crockery.

The kitchen at the church was also renovated just over a month ago to offer a hot meal to anyone who comes to the pantry. Around 15 people who come to the pantry stay for lunch each week.

Salvation Army Church Leader, Katy Shubotham said: “Our food pantry is a welcoming space that gives people the opportunity to make choices about what goes in their fridge, freezers, or cupboards. 

“The hot meal has also been popular. We change the menu every week and we try to use ingredients from the pantry. It brings our team so much joy to see friendships blossom over the table at the meal and around the shelves in the pantry. 

“I hope that one day there will be no need for food banks and food pantries but until that day we will remain committed to ensuring every person who comes through the door can choose and leave with more than just the essentials.”

The community pantry at Welling Salvation Army is supported by another organisation called Church Action on Poverty through its ‘Your Local Pantry’ initiative.

Your Local Pantry development worker at Church Action on Poverty, Ellie Malhotra, said: "Pantries are fantastic places that bring people together around food in dignified ways, and open the door to loads of other opportunities. 

"They're real places of hope. We’re really excited to be working with The Salvation Army for the first time and look forward to seeing the pantry in Welling continue to flourish.”

Other weekly activity at Welling Salvation Army includes a knit and natter group on a Tuesday morning from 10am – 12pm and a coffee morning on a Friday from 10am – 12pm.