A Peckham-based food pantry where you can get a week’s food shop for £4.50 hosted the launch of a new partnership with Co-op with support from TV Chef Big Zuu.
Instead of doing their Christmas advert this year, Co-op has partnered with Your Local Pantry to focus on the effects of high costs on communities.
The Your Local Pantry Network currently has 83 food pantries in the UK, but the biggest by far is Peckham Pantry, on Peckham Park Road.
Temi Okudiya, the manager at the pantry said: “No other pantry in the network is as big as us. They maybe have 40 to 100 members – we have over 4,000.”
Peckham Pantry is a project by Pecan, a charity that supports the most vulnerable in the community. Their other projects include their women’s services and employment support. “So we have other services we can direct people to if they’re struggling with something,” Temi explained.
Food pantries allow people to do a food shop for less. At Peckham Pantry you pay just £4.50 for more than £15 worth of shopping.
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“We have a lot of customers that are now volunteers – we want them to have a say in how the pantry is run.
“We also go the extra mile to make the pantry inclusive and culturally diverse so anyone with any dietary requirement can come and find something to eat.”
Ed Powell, mission manager for food at Co-op said: “We chose to launch our nationwide campaign in Peckham because it’s a really good example of how a food pantry should be run.”
“Local pantries offer dignity because you are contributing a small amount, so you feel part of it.
On Wednesday, TV Chef Big Zuu came to Peckham to do a live cook-along in support of the campaign. “I got involved because I want to do what I can to help to counteract what’s going on at the moment, with the cost of living crisis.”
Zuu and fellow chef Miguel Barclay, author of One Pound Meals, were in Leyton Square, on Peckham Park Road, giving locals tips on how to make their food shop go further.
“Planning your shop is important – and using cheaper ingredients like rice as a substitute. You can reuse rice for lots of different meals as well.
“For the cook-along I’ll be using ingredients you would find in your local pantry, like this one in Peckham.” Zuu added.
But with rising costs affecting more people, the pantry’s member base is only getting bigger.
“On average, we see between 60 to 70 people every day, six days a week,” Temi explained.
“So sometimes we struggle – when we see these numbers coming in and we don’t have enough food.
“It’s not because we don’t want to serve them, but we rely heavily on donations. So we sometimes run out of stock.
Local people who aren’t members can play their part by donating food. “As long as it’s in date, edible and safe to eat – we’ll take it. We accept donations in any form just to meet the demand for food,” Temi added.
“I hope this event brings more awareness about Peckham Pantry, so people know it’s there if they need it.”
Peckham Pantry is open Monday to Saturday 9am-4pm and 9am-7pm on Thursdays.
Peckham Pantry: 49-53 Peckham Park Road, SE15 6TU
Their other location St Luke’s Church, Chandler Way, SE15 6DT is open on Wednesdays 11am-2pm.
Check out Pecan’s Christmas campaign here.
For more information about how to get involved click here.