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Limes Farm and Noah’s Ark community pantries will be able to support more residents with low-cost essentials.
2 community supermarkets offering low-cost essentials in Epping Forest will expand, thanks to funding from Essex County Council.
Community Supermarket Programme
Limes Farm and Noah’s Ark community pantries have received £10,000 funding through the council’s Community Supermarket Programme.
The sites sell items such a fresh fruit and veg, canned goods, ready meals and personal hygiene products, at a reduced cost.
Limes Farm Community Pantry
Located in Victory Hall, Chigwell, Limes Farm Community Pantry is run by Community Champion, Lynne Moir. The pantry also offers wider community support, including a lunch club and a dementia café.
The extra funding from the council will enable Limes Farm to extend the reach of their work, with plans to increase the range of their produce.
The pantry is also supported by Epping Forest District Council.
Limes Farm currently has a membership of 60 residents, which continues to increase. It is open every Tuesday from 10am to 2pm and Thursdays from 10am to 3pm.
Noah’s Ark Community Pantry
Noah’s Ark Community Pantry, Buckhurst Hill, is the second location to receive funding from the council.
The site has existed as a pantry for many years, charging a reduced fee for most products. The pantry also has a small free offer, including local fruit, vegetables and bakery items.
Noah’s Ark serves over 200 members from St Elisabeth’s Hall. It is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm.
Vital community asset
Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Councillor Les Burrows said:
Community Champion Lynne and Noah’s Ark Community group bring dedication and passion to the community pantries within the district, which have been established in partnership with the local town and parish councils and partners.
The pantries meet the immediate needs within the district but also provide a supportive environment with resources from other organisations. Thanks to the generous funding from Essex County Council, the pantries have been able to expand and help more people.
However, in order to ensure this vital community asset can survive they need more volunteers. By coming together, we can strengthen our community ties and provide even greater support to families in need.
Expansion of community supermarkets
Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Levelling Up, Communities and Business Engagement, said:
It was fantastic to visit Limes Farm and Noah’s Ark community pantries recently, to see first-hand how we can provide more support to these existing hubs as part of our community supermarket programme.
We’re committed to setting up a community supermarket in every district in Essex and this includes supporting the expansion of existing services.
The additional £10,000 funding we are providing, will further diversify the range of products available for the over 250 members that use the two pantries. This will enable them to reach even further into their local communities.
If you’d like to get more involved and become a volunteer at either of the pantries, contact Lynne at Limes Farm on limesfarmcg@gmail.com or Marek at Noah’s Ark on marek@noahspreschool.org.
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