Lucie’s Pantry social supermarket, based at homelessness charity Emmaus Salford, will double its capacity thanks to a £66k grant from the Edward Holt Trust.
Lucie’s Pantry provides a sustainable and affordable source of food and household essentials to members of the Pendleton community struggling to make ends meet through debt, illness or low income. The Edward Holt Trust grant of £22k per year for three years (subject to annual review), will enable Lucie’s Pantry to increase its membership from 80 to 160 households, supporting up to 800 people in Salford.
The Edward Holt Trust originated in a 1955 endowment from Sir Edward Holt, owner of Manchester’s Joseph Holt brewery and Great Uncle of Richard Kershaw, the current Chairman of the Trustees and Chief Executive of Joseph Holt’s.
Richard commented: “We are delighted to support this excellent project which enables Emmaus to provide a greatly improved service within Salford. The endowment by Sir Edward Holt was to help support the local community and expanding Lucie’s pantry certainly hits the spot.”
Pat Ekins was formerly a member of the Emmaus Salford community – a charity which offers support to people who have experienced homelessness. Pat recently moved in to her own flat and thanks to the support from the Edward Holt Trust, is now employed full-time as Project Manager at Lucie’s Pantry.
Pat said: “It’s massive what the Edward Holt Trust has done for us to allow Lucie’s Pantry to expand. There are so many people out there who’ve not got enough money, they’re not eating properly and it’s heart breaking.
“We’ve got a long waiting list so with the support from the Edward Holt Trust we can get more people signed up and benefitting from Lucie’s Pantry.”
The social supermarket model is different to food banks. People who want to use the social supermarket become members of Lucie’s Pantry. Members pay £2.50 per week and are able to choose items to the value of approximately £15.
Simon Locke, Community Director at Emmaus Salford, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Edward Holt Trust for their generous support to enable Lucie’s Pantry to help even more people and families across Salford.
“Food poverty, or food insecurity, is a growing issue affecting many people in communities up and down the country. What we try to do with Lucie’s Pantry is break the stigma and offer great food for great people who are struggling to make ends meet.”
