The Courtyard Pantry takes surplus food from Fareshare Glasgow and other local suppliers and puts it to good use. For £2.50, pantry members get access to the food and household items they need; saving money and reducing waste! Anyone and everyone can become a member, email us at courtyardpantry@flourishhouse.org.uk for details.
As part of a sustainable response to food insecurity, members who come to the pantry can choose the items they need, putting together their own bags. These bags are worth up to £15 and contain at least 10 items of food or household goods.
While we hope this means that more people have access to the basics they need, we understand that everyone's situation is different. Some weeks you just don't have £2.50. That's why we want to offer a way where no one will have to go without. At the Courtyard Pantry, we have a Pay If Forward wall where members can pick up a ticket for £2.50 - no questions asked - which will enable them to get the items they need for the week.
Your donations will be added to this wall and you can help make sure no one goes without. Our target is to give out 1,000 bags of food and household items for free to those who need them. Why not leave a message of hope for our pantry members! Add a message to your donation and we will write it out on the tickets to add a little sunshine to someone's day. And if you include your name we can give you a shout out on our social media channels.
Since 2016 we have operated a community café in partnership with Queens Cross Housing Association, in Wester Common. When the COVID pandemic hit, and restrictions were imposed, the team at the Courtyard Café shifted their focus to assisting with the emergency food response in the local area.
What became clear was that there existed significant levels of food insecurity which had been exacerbated by the effects of the pandemic. With the consequences of the pandemic expected to push over 2.5 million more people into financial hardship by the middle of 2021, the team decided that they wanted to develop an alternative and sustainable approach to food insecurity. The Courtyard Pantry, using the model created by the Scottish Pantry Network in partnership with Move On and Fareshare, was then established. This model offers a choice to those facing social and economic hardship at the same time as tackling food waste that is a feature of modern economies. In March 2021, the Courtyard Pantry opened its doors to the people of Wester Common and North West Glasgow!
Thank you so much for supporting the Courtyard Pantry! We couldn't do this without people like you. If you have any questions or want more information pop us an email at courtyardpantry@flourishhouse.org.uk.
Take care!
The Courtyard Pantry Team
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
