NEWS
Vale Pantry launches valuable help for low income families in Sturminster Newton The Vale Network (Blackmore Vale Partnership & Gillingham Medical Practice) and Cllr. Carole Jones have been busy over the last few weeks preparing for the opening of North Dorset’s first community food pantry. ‘The Vale Pantry’ will be opening in Market Place, Sturminster Newton in early November in the shop previously occupied by Spear Travels, initially on Thursdays 5pm – 8pm and Saturdays 9am – 12pm.
For a weekly membership of £4.50, members will be able to choose a selection of food with a value of approx. £20 - £25 each week.
The pantry’s purpose is to help people top up their weekly shop, and the variety of food available will include fresh fruit and veg, store cupboard favourites, bread, dairy products as well as frozen items.
How do I become a member?
Jane Dawes, Managing Partner of The Blackmore Vale Partnership said ‘we we are delighted to be able to support our local community with this initiative’.
How can I help/be involved?
Membership forms and full details will be available to download on The Vale Pantry website or Facebook page very soon. There will also be a couple of The Vale Network are delighted to be financing this much needed sign-up days at the shop. scheme which will provide a Please keep an eye on social choice of good quality food to media for updates or make those who may for whatever contact by telephone or email, reason need a little bit of help details below. with their weekly shop.
The shop premises have kindly been made available due to the generosity of John Romans Park Homes Ltd and Spear Travels.
Volunteers are required to help with accepting food deliveries, sorting stock, admin and helping in the shop. Please do get in touch – training will be provided. The Pantry’s food supply will initially come from the national charitable food redistributor ‘Fareshare’. However, if you have an allotment or are a local business which finds itself with surplus food supplies, The Vale Pantry would love to hear from you.
Cllr. Carole Jones 07968 348481 carole4stur@gmail.com Karen Rhys (The Vale Network): 07395 949370 karen. rhys@dorsetgp.nhs.uk Facebook: @TheValePantry thevalepantry@gmail.com
