Martha's Pantry served up help for Slamannan residents thanks to Tesco and FareShare

Martha’s Pantry was set up two years ago and has since become a welcoming support hub for local residents looking to seek help in a safe environment, as well as providing fresh and frozen food, pet food and various household cleaning products to its members in Slamannan.

Offering a walk-in pantry service once a week from Slamannan Community Centre, the volunteer-run group provides vital support as part of their dignified food response service, as well as promoting the creation of healthy meals from all produce offered.

Martha’s Pantry receives food every week as part of the Community Food Connection surplus food scheme, which involves Tesco stores and food redistribution charity FareShare.

All food items collected via the Community Food Connection scheme are distributed through Martha’s Pantry for the benefit of locals.

Rev. Monica J MacDonald, chairman at Martha’s Pantry, said: “Thanks to the Community Food Connection scheme, we’ve grown to have a fantastic relationship with both Tesco and FareShare and we’re hugely grateful that they take the time out to help us assist the local community.

“All of the food provided from Tesco helps us to continue providing opportunities for our service-users to create healthy meals for their families. We also appreciate the other additional items that are provided by Tesco, such as bunches flowers, which are hugely popular with our older adult community members who get to take them home from the community centre.”

The Community Food Connection scheme ensures that surplus food from Tesco doesn’t go to waste and is instead provided to charities and community groups, whose volunteer members then distribute it to the public.

Tony McElroy, corporate communications and sustainability leader at Tesco, said: “Working with community groups such as Martha’s Pantry to help them get the food they need is such an important service for us to be able to provide. The dedication they have to their community is amazing, and we are pleased to do what we can to support.

“We firmly believe no good food should go to waste, which is why we began our Community Food Connection scheme. It enables us to ensure our surplus food is put to good use in communities.”

FareShare is the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste. Two-thirds of the organisations it provides food to, support children and families.

Katie Sadler, head of FareShare Go, said: “The food that Tesco redistributes through FareShare makes a huge difference to people facing food insecurity across the UK.

“We work with thousands of charities and community groups providing essential support to their communities, and receiving a steady stream of food helps them to feed the people who need it most.”

By providing the surplus food to help communities, it is also aiding the environment by ensuring that the food does not end up as landfill.

Charities and community groups that could benefit from the support of the Community Food Connection scheme can find further information here