A new type of foodbank officially opens to the public in Accrington later today (26 October) – but this one is a little different from the rest and the first of its kind in Hyndburn.
The Hyndburn Food Bank Food Pantry allows those in need to choose food and items for themselves instead of receiving a pre-packed parcel.
Stacy Walsh, organiser of the Hyndburn Food Pantry, said the best way to describe it is a “mini-supermarket”- with plenty of other added benefits for those in need.
While regular foodbanks mainly accept non-perishables, the foodbank pantry has fridges and freezers and stocks everything from fresh bread rolls to greeting cards.
In the coming weeks, they also plan to stock suits for interviews and intend to host cooking demonstrations where people can learn to use up their leftovers and cook healthy meals.
Stacy said: “During Covid, I was asked to work with the council to help them set up a scheme to deliver food parcels and co-ordinate all the food banks in Hyndburn.
“We recognised that there are people who are slipping through the net – there might be people who need foodbanks but might not use them.
“We decided that we needed something a little bit different in Hyndburn to catch those people who wouldn’t necessarily use a foodbank.”
At the successful open day (23 October), where people could sign up for the foodbank and also apply as volunteers, Stacy said she got to speak with numerous people who explained why foodbanks weren’t the right choice for them despite being in financial difficulty.
“At the opening weekend, lots of people came in to register to use the system,” Stacy explained, “people also registered to volunteer as well.”
She added: “After speaking to people, it just showed that there is a massive need for something like this.
“People had been furloughed, made redundant, had to move back home with their parents.”
“But some of these people said a foodbank is not for them.”
For a small charge of £2.50, customers are given a certain amount of ‘points’ to spend can browse the shelves and fill up a basket with any items they need.
Stacy explained: “It’s like a points system but we put acorns on. They will be allocated so many points and they will pay £2.50 and get whatever they like with the points available.
“For instance, if it’s a family they will get more points as there are more of them.”
As well as a type of foodbank, the pantry will also act as a welfare centre, offering advice, support and signposting people to other charitable organisations around Hyndburn.
Ms Walsh said: “Because we’re right in the centre of town people can call in and chat to us with anything they want to talk about – we can signpost them to lots of contacts that we have.
“We’re not here to replace foodbanks – we’re here to help people and also help people in need feel more comfortable using them.
“If we work together – all the different community groups- we can catch everybody’s needs.”
The Hyndburn Food Bank Food Pantry officially opens today at 10am and it is located at 27 Broadway in Accrington. Find out more via their Facebook page.
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