All you need to know about food pantries
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What is a food pantry?
Whilst many may think a food pantry is the same as a food bank, they are actually different. The majority of food banks require a referral to attend, but food pantries are open to anyone. Typically, food pantry users will pay an annual membership fee, alongside paying a small donation every time they attend the pantry.
Many food pantry users are residents who are looking specifically to buy low cost food items, but since food pantries are open to everybody, many people shop at food pantries for different reasons. Much of the food offered is food intercepted from their way to bins, and so using food pantries can reduce food waste and help us to be more environmentally friendly.
Local food pantries in Wigan, Leigh and Makerfield
Ashton Pantry is located at the church hall of St. Thomas’ Church, on Warrington Road in Ashton-in-Makerfield, although they are looking to move to a purpose-built food pantry at the same location. They’re open Tuesdays and Saturdays 11am-12am, and Thursdays and Sundays 3pm-4pm, with an annual membership subscription of £5. There is also a minimum contribution required of £3 per visit to cover running costs, and it operates on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis for the food items.
St. Nathaniel’s Food Pantry can be found at St. Nathaniel, Church Road in Platt Bridge. It’s open to anyone from the local community, with an annual £5 membership fee. Each shop is £3 and users can choose up to 20 items of food, with the pantry being open every Thursday from 9am - 12pm.
Jed’s Pantry is based at St. Stephen’s Church in Whelley, and is open Tuesdays from 9am - 11am. - Open Tuesdays 9-11am; Located at St. Stephens Church, Whelley. They also regularly offer hot drinks!
Tom’s Pantry can be found at St. James Centre in Poolstock, offering intercepted food at a low-cost to anyone wishing to attend. Annual membership is £5, and for 20 food items it costs £3. They’re open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 to 11:30, and also have a café on open Tuesdays!
The Bridge in Leigh runs a food market offering low-cost surplus food that would’ve otherwise gone to waste. They’re based at 6 The Avenue in Leigh, and annual membership is £2 with the food market being open Monday to Friday from 10am - 3pm. The charity also runs ‘The Bridge at Bryn’, a community food shop offering low-cost food, which is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am-3pm, and Wednesday 10am-6pm and has free membership.
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