Curo yesterday (Wednesday 3rd August) welcomed the local community to the launch of The Pantry, its new foodbank in Midsomer Norton. The Pantry is a foodbank and so much more, bringing much-needed help to rural communities and hard-to-reach customers as the cost of living crisis continues.

Samantha Farnen, a Curo resident and mother of four young boys, says the foodbank is a great benefit for the local community. “The school holidays can put a real strain on families’ finances. You need money for childcare, food and entertaining the kids. It’s a big issue. The Pantry is a backstop if people don’t have food in their cupboards.”

Supported by UK food poverty charity Fareshare, Curo supplier Travis Perkins and local supermarkets, The Pantry is open to all Curo customers – from young carers, to families and older people – who’ll be able to get a few bags of food shopping for £3.

“The Pantry is bringing the local community together after Covid,” says Curo resident Caroline Laver. “Lots of older people in this area feel isolated in their homes. We’ve lost two bus routes and elderly people can struggle to do their shopping. This is a way to help them access food, as well as getting them back together socially.”

Colleagues from Curo’s friendly and knowledgeable Customer Accounts team will also be on location at The Pantry to offer money and benefits advice, helping people struggling with rising costs to access on-the-spot help.

“I’ve been working on The Pantry project for several years so I’m very excited to finally launch it,” says Emma Newman, Regional Accounts Manager, who’s organised the project. “The idea was sparked when we realised how hard it is for some of our customers in rural areas to access help. We wanted to bring support to their doorsteps. As well as offering supplies to restock their kitchen cupboards, Curo colleagues will be on hand at The Pantry to offer practical advice on money matters.”

Martyn Piper, Account Manager at Travis Perkins, which is supporting the project says The Pantry has a dual function. “Many people are suffering from food poverty because of rising costs and it will help to ease that. But there’s also the social aspect. I met a gentleman who told me he hadn’t seen another person for weeks. The Pantry is helping to bring young and older people together as a community.”

Following the launch, The Pantry will be open at Curo’s Community Room in Welton Vale, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Somerset, BA3 2BG, 10am-2pm every Tuesday.