Poets Pantry is a new project to provide a food store and community space on the ground floor of Halford House. I am really pleased to see this space being brought back into use as it was something I campaigned on, and have been working with Podsmead Big Local and Gloucester City Homes to bring to fruition.

Podsmead Big Local are now fundraising to get the furniture and equipment they need. Please see below a message from PBL:

“Poets Pantry” is our latest project which will help those members of our community that are struggling to put food on their tables to feed their families during these difficult times.

We have been working to reduce food poverty for over a year in cooperation with Fairshares charity to utilise food items that would not make it to the supermarket shelves or food that would otherwise be disposed of. We are not a food bank as such, but a food distribution club. This removes the stigma associated with foodbank use and enables people to feel that they are helping to reduce food waste.

Over the last six months we have all had to deal with the impact of Covid-19. Ranging from lockdown and shielding to lack of contact with friends and family. 

Food poverty has become an issue, not just for those on benefits but for those who have been furloughed and made redundant. Families that were just about managing are finding it difficult to provide food and, in some cases, parents are going without meals to ensure that their children are fed. Since the beginning of the first lockdown we have seen more than double the demand for support.

We have been given the opportunity to move the Butterfly Food Distribution Network into new premises which will allow us to continue to grow and increase the support we provide to more families and individuals who need a little extra help.

We need your help to get the project up and running, so we can support those families that are struggling to feed their families and ensure that as many people as possible don’t have to go without so that their children can have healthy meals. Help us to combat food poverty.

We would really appreciate your support in this very important local project. If you could donate or promote this link to the crowdfunder, we would be so very grateful.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/poets-pantry-a-resource-to-combat-food-poverty