“We can provide a safe place and guaranteed good food.”
Burgess Hill Pantry is a community fridge based in the centre of Burgess Hill, Sussex offering easily accessible and affordable food. The Pantry provides a wide range of products including fresh fruit and vegetables; a wide selection of bread and pastries; chilled, ambient and frozen food; as well as household essentials.
The Pantry’s support feeds around 800 adults and children a week. Two types of memberships are offered allowing people to select different amounts of products depending on their household size. The fee allows members to feel dignified, in control of their purchases as well as set up budget routines.
“The time when I really needed help, I hadn’t bought food for a while so I hadn’t realised the cost of living had gone up. My daughter
brought me here and its amazing,” shared a customer. “Normally I meet the same people each week which is nice, you feel like you are not the only one.”
Clare, the manager of the pantry, gave us a tour of their new location. Having recently moved to a more central spot in the Burgess Hill Marketplace Shopping Centre, the bright cheerful colours are warm and welcoming for customers. The shop is organised in an easily accessible fashion with stalls for fresh produce and even a bakery stall.
“Now we’ve moved, we’re in a very public shopping centre,” expressed Clare. “I’m really excited for opportunities to raise awareness and get people involved in supporting a community that is perceived to be quite affluent. We’re showing people that there is a need.”
Each week, the Pantry receives a delivery from FareShare Sussex & Surrey. Fresh fruit and vegetables are popular among beneficiaries and are appreciated as they are not always available at other food banks.
“Everything that comes in from FareShare Sussex & Surrey goes onto the shelves. It is incredibly important to us. We love fruit and veg, it sets us aside from other foodbanks. Healthy food is what you find people really appreciate.”
Reducing food waste is an important part of the Pantry’s mission. By receiving surplus food from FareShare Sussex & Surrey, they help us redistribute food to beneficiaries and avoid landfill. They also have a herd of cows that take any leftover bread!
When asked about the quality of the food, a customer exclaimed: “I think it is utterly appalling that the shops had to throw this food away. The quality is perfect!”
Alongside the food, The Pantry plays a key role in the local community and provides other forms of support to their members. From teaching people to read, to running campaigns raising awareness, they have made a large impact on their local community. They are currently involved in a monthly drop-in session called the ‘One Stop Support Shop’ in partnership with other charities, making it an easily accessible way for people to find all the support they need in one space.
If you would like to find out more about the Burgess Hill Pantry or offer your support, visit their website or Facebook page.
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