Hayling Island Community Pantry & Food Bank

The Community Centre Pantry is moving to a new permanent home, in one of the rooms at Hayling Library. We are really excited to be able to work alongside the Library and other agencies, and will mean we can continue to engage with our community and offer food support. Thank you so much to Jill, Liz and everyone at the Library and HCC for allowing this to happen. 

This is the first time the Community Centre has ventured away from the Centre itself, but space is a premium and there is just no room in the inn for a dedicated pantry space. The centre is in such demand, and it is lovely to see people returning to groups, classes and events slowly but surely, and very important that they have the space to be able to do these things and socialise once more.

The pantry will close at 7.30pm on Wednesday 23rd June, and will re-open in the new venue on Monday 28th June. The opening days and times will remain the same for now too. 

Huge thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible, and here's to new beginnings between the Library and Community Centre. 

The government have recognised the financial impact of Covid-19 on people and families nationwide and have made a community grant available for us to purchase equipment to set up our own Community Pantry. This will run alongside our existing food bank scheme to provide a more comprehensive food support package to Islanders. 

The Pantry initiative is designed to support more people with food deprivation, helping them to escape or move on from their current emergency with a ‘helping hand’ approach.

Pantries offer a range of fresh, frozen and general foods, some of which will change each week, and provide groceries at a much lower rate than shops or supermarkets. Access to the community pantry is through membership. Members make a contribution of £5 per visit (once a week max) and can select their own items from the pantry, totalling a minimum of £15. There will be 2 for 1’s, special offers and free foods available too. Each week there is a weekly meal deal on offer, together with a recipe to help provide a wholesome meal.

The pantry has no restrictions on becoming a member, it is for anyone that needs a bit of extra support during these times. It is a simple and easy process by completing a membership form, or email tania@hicca.co.uk or emily.harkness12@gmail.com or call 07799134826 / 07554141348

Our food bank will be open as usual two days a week (Mon & Thurs) and is supported by food donations and funds from the Hayling Helpers account, which have been providing food parcels since the initial lockdown in March 2020 thanks to donations from the community. 

We have teamed up with Olio, Fareshare, Sainsburys, UK Harvest, Morrisons and Heidis in West Town to receive goods, as well as donated and short shelf-life products, therefore avoiding any food waste.

Please find us on facebook for more details, news & photos.

If you would like to support either of these schemes, donations of food or toiletries would be very much appreciated. Alternatively, donations can be made by BACS to Barclays, account number 30237949  sort code 20 69 34  account name Hayling Island Community Centre. All memberships and donated funds will be ploughed back into the scheme to keep it running.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, your support has been overwhelming, and it is fantastic to see everyone working together.

THE PANTRY AND FOOD BANK WILL FOLLOWING COVID-19 GUIDELINES.

THANK YOU TO:

HAYLING HELPERS
FARESHARE
SAINSBURYS MENGHAM
UK HARVEST
CONNECT4COMMUNITIES

ALL THE LOVELY PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY FOR SUPPORT AND DONATIONS