Whitehill and Bordon residents can help reduce food waste and purchase food for a fraction of the cost of supermarkets thanks to a new community pantry that has opened at Café 1759.
Membership to the pantry costs £1 a year, and customers can then choose either 10 items for £3.50, or 15 items for £5.
Pop in, meet our volunteers, and sign up to the pantry.
Anyone with a GU35 postcode can join the pantry, which is located in Café 1759, Chieftain House, Challenger Place, Bordon, GU35 0FP. It is open Tuesday-Friday 9am-3pm, and Saturday 9am-2pm. Funding for the pantry came from Hampshire County Council’s Connect4Communities.
The not-for-profit café is supported by Abri, one of the south’s largest housing providers. The pantry forms part of Café 1759’s mission to support the local community and reduce food waste.
Cita Jagot, Communities and Involvement Manager said: “We know that rising bills are having a huge impact on everyone, and we want to help as many people as we can. Community pantries allow us to access produce right in the heart of the community at a fraction of the cost of supermarkets. It also helps prevent good food from going to waste. This is the second community pantry we’ve opened this year.
"At the pantry customers choose what food they want – we don’t prepare the bags. Anyone with a GU35 postcode can join, there’s no other criteria. Customers will save money, meet new people, and support the local community.”
Café 1759 opened four years ago. It’s a not-for-profit café supported by volunteers, and over the years they’ve run lots of events for the wider community. If you’d like to find out more about volunteering at the café, pop in a speak to one of the team or go to www.cafe1759.co.uk.
Abri also launched its new community space – The Room – in Chieftain House next Café 1759 on Tuesday 11 October. The Room has been refurbished with funding support from East Hampshire District Council so that it can support even more local community groups. Activities will be taking place throughout this week to mark the opening, from energy advice to employment support, and counselling service to a toddlers group – contact the Susi Drummond, Community Development Officer at susi.drummond@abri.co.uk to find out more.
Next time you’re in Whitehill and Bordon, make sure you pop in, meet our volunteers, and sign up to the pantry.
