Pantry
The Rainbow Centre values our community and believes that everybody should have access to good food. These things are combined in our Pantries, a service we run in partnership with Your Local Pantry.
Our Pantries are about giving people dignity, choice and hope until they can get back on their feet financially.
How does it work?
Our Pantries are just like a shop, where members choose the food they want from the shelves. We stock a wide range of top-quality food including fresh fruit and veg, frozen and chilled food, meat and dairy products, and long-life tinned and packaged food.
Members pay a small subscription of £7 per visit and, in return, can choose groceries worth up to £45, making their budget stretch further.
It is open to anyone across our district who is having difficulty making ends meet, you don’t need a referral; you can just apply to become a member, whether you are working or not.
People can receive support from a Pantry for as long as they need and can choose to go weekly or monthly.
Memberships are limited, so when one person no longer needs our help, we can offer a membership to another member of our community.
We also have a community space that runs during our opening times where our members can have refreshments and chat to volunteers and each other. We work in partnership with professionals from other organisations who will join us in our community space at regular intervals.
How do I become a member?
You can apply to become a member by finding your nearest Pantry > here and completing the application form. We run pantries at six locations across the district.
We know that an online form may not be suitable for everyone. If this is the case for you, please contact us using the details below for assistance.
When you apply, you will receive an email confirming receipt of the form. Once your application has been assessed, you will receive a further confirmation email from the Pantry with all the information you need.
Healthy and affordable recipes
Looking for great meals for under £1 per person? One of our supporters created this wonderful cookbook, inspired by the healthy and affordable items available from our Pantry.
Download it and check out all the great recipes from yummy Breakfast Muffins to hearty Sausage and Lentil Casserole.
How Can I Help
- Donate Food < find out how, where and what we need
- Donate Money < to help us run this service
- Donate Time < be part of helping your community.
Contact Details
Telephone: 07913 573403
Email: pantry@rainbow-centre.org
“I just wanted to say thank you for today, for making me feel so welcome and at ease, and for the lovely food. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”
– Hythe Pantry Member
