Mayor welcomes Smallbridge volunteer ‘food club’

Mayor Billy Sheerin with Pantry volunteers

The Mayor of Rochdale, Billy Sheerin, performed an opening ceremony for a new Pantry food club in Smallbridge.

Located in a row of shops in Stevenson Square, the Pantry has already proved itself a success with local residents.

The Pantry opened its doors to the public on Thusday 11 July 2019 where members, who pay £3.00 a week, can choose items of food from the shelves to a value of around £12.00.

The Pantry is available to anyone in the Smallbridge area who would benefit from the extra help to the household budget. Items available include cereal, tea, eggs, beans, vegetables and fruit, ready meals, rice, pasta etc.

Eric Butterworth, Chairperson of the Pantry scheme said: “The Pantry has gone down very well with locals. Our target was to have 50 members but the demand was too great. In the end we lifted the limit to 70 – and there are already several people on the waiting list.”

The Pantry is staffed by volunteers and it was their dedication that impressed the mayor when he visited the scheme just before it opened to the public. The mayor honoured the selfless efforts of the volunteers when he said:

“It is an inspiration to see what local people can achieve for local people. Food is a basic need and the lack of it affects people in so many ways besides the obvious. Efforts like the Pantry helps people in a way that is not simply a handout. It is a wonderful scheme and I thank everyone involved.”

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing provided funds and other help to establish the scheme with additional funding provided by Ambition for Ageing.

Residents in the Smallbridge area can visit the Pantry to find out more about membership and, if they wish, add their name to the waiting list.