Our story
From a food cupboard in 2011 to four services in Hillside (sample).
From a cupboard to four services
2011
A cupboard in the vestry
Four neighbours open a food cupboard at St Mark’s on Saturday mornings (sample).
2014
Registered as a charity
The pantry registers as a charity and elects its first trustees.
2017
Into the Old Chapel
A long lease on the empty chapel on Orchard Road gives us shelves, a counter and a store room.
2020
Doorstep deliveries
Volunteer drivers start taking parcels to people who cannot come in.
2022
Warm space and homework club
The church hall opens twice a week in winter, and the library lends us its annexe for homework club.
2024
Neighbour visits
Trained volunteers start weekly visits to older neighbours who live alone.
Started by a few neighbours, run by many
In 2011 four neighbours noticed that the same families were asking the vicar for help every winter. They filled a cupboard with tins and opened it on Saturday mornings (sample).
We are still local and still small enough to know people’s names. Every gift is spent in Hillside, and we publish where it went every year.
Help a neighbour this winter
Every gift is spent in Hillside, on the things on our ladder. A monthly gift lets us plan the shelves ahead.