M&S Coatbridge Faraday

The People's Pantry Foodbank is a vital volunteer-led community initiative involving a cross-section of local churches and the wider community. The project provides emergency food aid to needy families and individuals, including the working poor, the unemployed, victims of domestic abuse and those with mental health and well-being problems. The foodbank is located in Coatbridge, one of the five most deprived areas of Scotland. There is no referral system - those desperately in need simply have to turn up to access emergency help which is offered without judgement or imposing criteria. We also work in partnership with organisations such as the Citizens' Advice Bureau and other agencies which help our clients with health, employment and financial issues. Last year (2024) we fed 7,775 adults, 5,379 vulnerable children and 793 pets - 13,947 in total. Among the beneficiaries in the past year are a number of Ukrainian war refugees (mothers and children) now living in Coatbridge.

We operate a free fresh food distribution service every Monday morning to needy families and individuals in the Motherwell area. Some suffer from addiction problems others just find life difficult. Our numbers are increasing and we now have in excess of 80 people attending regularly every Monday

The identification and combating of all forms of poverty and sickness, without differentiation on the grounds of race, colour, creed or sex, by promoting social justice and actively working with those in need and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, to bring spiritual and/or material comfort to people in conditions of need, hardship or distress.