A Taunton pantry celebrated its third birthday on March 23.
The Rowbarton Local Pantry provides surplus food to members for a low weekly fee, supporting 48 local households while minimizing food waste.
It is part of the Somerset Local Pantry Network (SLPN).
The operation, which is run by 14 volunteers, operates from the Rowbarton Methodist Church with support from FareShare South West and several local retailers, including Morrisons.
Recently, Rowbarton introduced a new scheme using donated funds to regularly raffle kitchen appliances, aiding members in transforming surplus food into nutritious meals.
The pantry's remarkable efforts didn't go unnoticed; in 2023 it won the Social and Community Award at FareShare South West’s Social Impact Awards, as a member of the SLPN.
While initial grant money and support from Somerset Council helped launch Local Pantries, each pantry is independently run by voluntary sector groups.
The SLPN, a partnership between Somerset Council, community groups, and food charity FareShare South West, always welcomes new volunteers or members.
Additionally, the positive impact of Somerset pantries has been documented in a film by food charity Action Against Hunger.
The team at Rowbarton urges anyone interested in volunteering or becoming a member to contact them via rowbartonpantry@gmail.com.
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