A collaboration with Goldhill Organic Farm has enabled the Vale Pantry to supply fresh produce, but donations are urgently needed to fund the ever-growing food bill.

THE cost-of-living crisis is hitting households hard.
Inflation – the rate at which the cost of goods increases – has reached 40-year highs in recent months, with prices rising by more than 10% in September.

Wages and benefits, of course, have not risen at the same rate, leaving many facing problems balancing the books – and affording the basics.
While some support from government has been provided, many are still struggling to make ends meet. And with war in Ukraine and sustained supply chain problems, things are not set to get better any time soon.

From fuel bills to food shops, costs are rising, and the Vale Pantry is at the forefront of the issue.
The charity provides a ‘social supermarket’, where members can pay £6 for a shop with a value of up to £50, as well as providing a range of other support to help households through difficult times.
And it has seen demand spiral as the crisis has deepened.
“September saw our busiest month, with just under 800 shops taken, representing a 30% increase on the same time last year,” said Pantry trustee, Carole Jones.
“Since we opened, we have actually provided 13,599 shops – which will be added to every day.
“Currently, we are working with 302 families comprising 494 adults and 359 children. This number is growing exponentially and it’s a challenge and in all honesty, it’s worrying as to how we can cope.
“Can we help everybody? Who do we say ‘no’ to?
“It all comes down to money – how much can we spend on food weekly and remain sustainable.”
The Pantry currently spends more than £3,000 each week on supplies for the shop – but it needs help to maintain and grow that amount.
“We are anxious to drive our monthly donations up. Currently it’s at £2,500 per month – but our aim it to increase it to £5,000 to £6,000.
“This way, with the addition of the user contributions, we are sustainable and not reliant on the constant applications for grants daily.”

“Currently, we are working with 302 families, comprising 494 adults and 359 children”

One demographic that has seen a marked increase at the Pantry is among pensioners, who are struggling to find the money to pay increasing fuel and food costs.
“Around a month ago, we started to see an increase of need coming from single pensioners who are finding it difficult to meet the costs of their home on one pension,” Carole explained.
“In the last couple of weeks, we are now seeing a rise in the number of homeowners who are being notified of sizeable increases to their mortgage payments.”
Across the Vale and the county, the Pantry is a unique facility, providing a service not seen elsewhere.
Foodbanks are by referral, for example, while the Pantry offers membership to all through its website.
There is a similar store in Salisbury, which was recently forced to suspend membership amid rising numbers – and other similar ventures in Weymouth and Littlemoor.
“We really are quite unique,” Carole said. “Which is why people are coming from a wider area. There simply is nothing else for them.
“We work closely with the local foodbanks who are able to help us with their surplus foods from time to time – we are particularly grateful to the Gillingham and Sherborne Foodbanks.
“And we are so grateful to be supported by the Goldhill Organic Farm, who have helped us weekly with some fresh produce.
“We, in turn, have helped them with a number of our users all attending weeding and watering parties in the summer.
“These have been terrific fun and great for social interaction.”