Easington Pantry has joined the East Riding Food Poverty Alliance as the 14th member, supporting residents in rural villages in South West Holderness.
Easington Pantry runs every Friday morning from All Saints Church based in Easington. The pantry is open to all, and its primary goals are to make affordable food accessible to local residents and to reduce the amount of food that goes to waste.
The idea for the pantry was formed in 2020, following the closure of the village shop. This resulted in residents having to travel up to 7 miles to purchase and food, which often left people going without, especially the elderly and those who did not have access to their own transport. Food poverty and insecurity does not solely exist because people cannot afford to purchase food. Many other factors are at play, and food deserts play a huge part of this in many rural areas.
Easington Pantry has now being running for several years, it has become a community hub each Friday. The church doors are open to all, inviting people in for hot drinks, homemade cakes or soup and the chance to socialise with others. This is a vital resource in rural areas such as Easington, and has reduced social isolation for many.
As the newest member of ERFPA, it is exciting to see what contributions the team at Easington Pantry can bring to the network. Together, the members of ERFPA are working hard to reduce food poverty across the East Riding.
