A public appeal: Let’s bring the ‘Pompey’ spirit to help those in hardship.
Penny Mordaunt MP has launched a public appeal for donations of high-demand food and household items to bolster the new Food Pantry initiative.
Three new pantries are being established in Portsmouth North to complement the existing pantries. Penny Mordaunt has funded the new pantries through the proceeds of her book; Greater: Britain After the Storm and has also financially supported the existing pantries in the north of the city.
Food Pantries provides the opportunity for anyone to join and access a weekly shop for as little as £4-5, saving on average around £800 per year. They operate like a small corner shop with a greater range of produce than food banks might offer. They are run by volunteers and the money paid by Food Pantry users for their weekly shop is used to contribute towards pantry supplies. Other food is donated by a wide variety of groups. They provide a warm space where people can go to access other support too.
Penny said, “Winter and the run-up to Christmas can be a difficult time for many people. I wanted to expand the Food Pantry offer to all parts of my constituency. The Paulsgrove and Baffins Pantry schemes open this week and we’re continuing to look for a suitable site in the Stamshaw/Tipner/Hilsea area to open the third Pantry soon. I want to thank the many businesses, organisations and volunteers who have helped get these new pantries set up.”
The new pantries are manned by volunteers and together with Pantry-Partners, a network of businesses and other organisations, will serve their local communities to help people to access a weekly shop and help those experiencing financial hardship.
There are some items in high demand and Penny is asking people who want to support the scheme to donate specific items.
Penny added, “I know local residents are very generous in helping neighbours who are struggling. I know many will want to help, it’s what our city is all about, it’s the Pompey Spirit. We want to raise awareness of the specific items pantries will need so people who do want to donate know what the best things to supply are. ”
Below is a list of additional items that are most needed for the new Food Pantries.
The core items that will be in demand are:
- Dried Pasta and dried Spaghetti
- Toilet rolls (High priority for packs of 4 toilet rolls!)
- Baby nappies (high priority)
- Baby wipes
- Tins of beans
- Tins of spaghetti
- Tinned vegetables
- Tinned soup (any)
- Tea bags
- Instant coffee
- Long-Life Fruit Juice (cartons)
- Bottles of Squash
Toiletries
- Toothpaste
- toothbrushes (adults’ and children’s)
- Shower Gel
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Deodorant
- Ladies’ Sanitary products (Tampons and Sanitary Towels)
Fresh produce:
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Parsnips
- Onions
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
How to donate: If you are able to donate, please bring your donations to:
Paulsgrove Community Centre, Marsden Road, Portsmouth PO6 4JB.
Donations can be left with the reception between the hours of 9am and 7pm (Monday to Friday only) and the donated items will be distributed and used to help stock the new Food Pantries to serve our communities.
Download the press release here: Press Release – Food Pantry Appeal – 07-12-2022