A social supermarket is to open at a church to help families who have difficulty affording food.

Sandwich Pantry is a joint project eight months in the making and is due to open in April.

It will allow members to select and purchase 10 items of food which would normally cost £15 for a £4 weekly membership.

Brought to fruition by volunteers and support from the Sandwich Tollbridge Fund, the Sandwich Pantry is working with FareShare, a national organisation fighting hunger and tackling food waste, and St Peter’s Church and the Churches Conservation Trust which manages the church in Market Street.

Working group member David Wood said: "Local residents who need the service are invited to become members of the service.

"Volunteers will take delivery of the food from FareShare each Monday.

"Members will normally come to St Peter’s to choose their 10 products unless Covid-19 restrictions limit entry to the church. If this occurs, we will prepare food parcels to best match our members’ needs."

He added: "We aim to provide quality fresh and nutritious food, alongside a range of tinned, dried and other products to help."

The food is donated to FareShare by supermarkets and is then distributed throughout the county to organisations like the Sandwich Pantry to help tackle food poverty and support families in need.

Mr Wood, who is also a Sandwich Labour councillor, added: "It it a mixture of fresh food that is still before the use by date although a supply of ‘ambient’ stock too. All the food is of a good quality."

Sandwich Pantry is run by its umbrella organisation, the not-for-profit company The Sandwich Social Supermarket CIC and will be managed, in the first instance, by St Peter’s Care and Share.

It is for people whose financial situation makes it hard to buy food including users of food banks and or those who do not qualify for food bank help.

To speak to somebody about becoming a member and receiving weekly food, call 07377 808477 between 10am and 1pm on weekdays. Alternatively, email OurSandwichPantry@gmail.com

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