Gorbals Community Pantry Launch
Gorbals Community Pantry has now officially opened after several years of planning.
The pantry, which is located in the former community room at 12 Commercial Court, was officially launched on Tuesday 24th March.
Gorbals Community Pantry was created thanks to one local poverty campaigner’s idea, with backing and funding from the Gorbals Ideas Fund, a community budgeting fund administered by New Gorbals Housing Association.
Poverty truth campaigner, Cath Wallace, first publicly proposed the idea back in 2022, on the Gorbals Ideas Fund platform. The platform welcomes ideas from local people and groups, which the local community then vote on. Projects like the Gorbals Pantry propose how much funding they need to make an impact, and residents vote on which projects receive a share of the £60,000 funding pot.
In 2022, Gorbals Pantry won the vote to receive an £8,000 grant from Gorbals Ideas Fund.
Since then, Cath has been working with Gorbals Ideas Fund, New Gorbals Housing Association, and like-minded local people, to get the pantry up and running.
Cath said: “I am delighted to see this idea come to fruition. The people of the Gorbals voted for this idea and today, this is the result.
“It means so much to finally be able to see the doors to Gorbals Community Pantry open.
“The pantry is something that’s much-needed in this area and I hope it will make a big improvement to Riverside while massively benefiting those across the Gorbals”
Gorbals Community Pantry is open on a Tuesdays 11am to 2pm and Thursdays 4.30pm to 6.30pm. People in Gorbals area can sign up for membership by popping into the pantry, or online by clicking here.
Membership costs £5 per year and anyone living in the G5 area can access a weekly provision, which includes £3 for a small shop or £6 for a larger shop for families.
The pantry is run by a group of eight local volunteers, with support from staff at New Gorbals Housing Association.
Melissa Gillen, Participatory Budgeting Officer at New Gorbals Housing Association and staff support for Gorbals Ideas Fund, said:
“It is vital that food support like the pantry exists in the Gorbals. Indicators show this area as one of the most deprived in the city, with people struggling to make ends meet whether they are in work or not.
“Everybody should have access to affordable food no matter their circumstances. No one should feel shame about struggling in the current climate, so Gorbals Pantry is working hard to ensure people can access essential food provisions without stigma.
“Hopefully the pantry can make a big difference to the people of Gorbals.”
New Gorbals Housing Association’s Maintenance Team helped to renovate and decorate the Pantry space, with time and materials donated by contractors including McGregor Projects, Jewson, Travis Perkins, Howden’s, Plumstore, DCL, Electrical Network, Howden’s and Crown Paint.
First Bus has also donated £1,000 worth of food, with Warburtons donating bread weekly. Both the local Asda and local distillery are also running food drives to support the pantry.
Gorbals Pantry has ties with supermarkets and local food networks to continue to provide affordable food for the people of Gorbals.