Community fridge and pantry open at Purfleet hub

Deputy Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Sue Little, joined local councillors and members of the community to officially open the Purfleet Community Hub community fridge and pantry.

From Tuesday 17 January 2023, residents across Thurrock can benefit from donated food items and surplus stock that may have otherwise gone to landfill at the borough's first community fridge in a community hub.

All items are free to take home. The fridge and pantry at Purfleet-on-Thames, run by hub volunteers, are open to all residents on:

• Tuesdays, from 10am to 4pm
• Wednesdays, from 10am to midday
• Thursdays, from 10am to midday and from 2pm to 4pm

Ward Councillors Cllr Qaisar Abbas and Cllr Lee Watson joined Cllr Little at the official opening alongside hub volunteers, Thurrock Council teams, local residents, members of Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum, and Thurrock CVS's Community Builder Kim Vasa and Food Coordinator Eunice Flynn.

Cllr Little said: "I'm honoured to have officially opened the community pantry and fridge at Purfleet Community Hub. After hub volunteers heard from residents who were struggling with the increased cost of living, they opened the community pantry late last year at the hub and have now boosted this offer with a community fridge.

"The pantry provides in-date food cupboard staples using donations from Morrisons, Grays, and other kind individuals, and the fridge offers cold food necessities. Our volunteers collect donations, check dates on stock and refill shelves. We ask that residents only take what they need to ensure everyone who needs support can benefit from the scheme, and they donate items when they can."

Thank you to a number of organisations and individuals who have supported this initiative including Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum, the forum's chair John Rowles, Aveley Village Community Foundation, Morrisons, Thurrock Foodbank and Thurrock CVS.

The Purfleet-on-Thames pantry is one of a network of community pantries and fridges set up across the borough. For details, go to Stronger Together: Thurrock Food Network.

This initiative accepts donated food items and surplus stock from supermarkets, households, businesses and foodbanks. To offer any support, email [email protected]

More information about Purfleet Community Hub can be found at thurrock.gov.uk/communityhubs

Photo below: Deputy Mayor Cllr Sue Little, Cllr Qaisar Abbas, Cllr Lee Watson, hub volunteers, Thurrock Council teams, residents, members of Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum and Thurrock CVS's Community Builder and Food Coordinator.

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