Bring a tin to work brings bumper haul for Salisbury's Pantry

Radio Odstock have long been supporters of Your Salisbury Pantry, our local social supermarket run by the Salisbury City Council Communities Team. Yet, more volunteers have helped them promote their service and raise awareness of donation needs. The Pantry on Catherine Street is a food membership scheme offering access to low-cost food for the residents of Salisbury struggling with the cost of living.

But a group of Radio Odstock’s finest went above and beyond by registering local workplaces to collect tins for the shelves of the shop, which relies on donations, grants and charitable partnerships to maintain stock and meet the needs of its over 600 members.

Collection day for the over 20 workplaces that signed up was Thursday, 1st December and the tins were swept up and brought to the Pantry the next day. When sorted and stored donations filled nearly 50 crates, making this the largest donation Your Salisbury Pantry has ever received. In November, Your Salisbury Pantry supported an average of 89 households per week with a shop for just £5, worth an average of £28.

Sharon Chandler, a regular on Radio Odstock’s Gilly and Friends programme, was a key part of bringing this collection of food together. She said, “After meeting the Pantry Manager Chloe on Gilly and friends, I really wanted to help with building up some stock so the Pantry could help more people. I used to listen to Spire FM and they supported the Stars Appeal with bring a pound to work, that got me thinking that instead of a pound we could ask for a food item.

"The team on Gilly and Friends decided on 1st December as collection day so we could hopefully give some families a better Christmas. We had 25 drop off points, and all the Salisbury branches of the Scouts collected tins. I was blown away with the generosity of the people who donated over two weeks. It has exceeded anything I had hoped for.”

Salisbury City Council wishes to thank the team at Gilly and Friends, Gilbert Scammell, Lorna Aldridge, Sarah Butterfield, Lorraine Morris, Sharon Chandler and Chris Emm for all their time and effort. Cllr Victoria Charleston said, “The response from people in Salisbury, coordinated by Radio Odstock, shows once again the generosity of our community. Our Local Pantry is a vital resource to so many residents and a key focus for our Communities Team and Salisbury City Council.”

Sarah Gregson, Communities Manager for Salisbury City Council oversees the team who run the project. Today she said, “In late October we had to close to new Members at the Pantry. This project and a massive uptick in local group and individual donations have meant we can now accept new members and keep supporting our community through this cost of living crisis”

As always the shop is looking for stock volunteers and volunteer drivers in an attempt to extend its opening hours in 2023. If anyone else would like to help or donate they can call 01722 417100 or email salisburypantry@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk