Argos Bodmin (Micro Inside Sainsbury's)

Working for the families in the Gover Division of St Austell. Distributing food, helping those families who need it and preventing food going to landfill. We collect surplus food from our partners that they no longer need and distribute it to families through our Community via our Larder days, thus reducing hunger and waste at the same time. What started as a post Covid need during school holidays in 2020, we are now into our 6th year and the need continues to grow. We currently operate from a 20ft porta cabin situated on a private premises where there is plenty of parking. The address is 1a Gover Road, St Austell Cornwall. Customers come to us from word of mouth, through the local Health Hub The Food Bank, through posters etc. When a customer comes to us for the first time, I have a chat with them to ascertain whether they have any dietry needs, cooking facilities etc. If homeless and no cooking facilities, we have a stock of ration packs which we can give out that only need water. Similarly with customers who are staying in a travel lodge where there is only a kettle. Because we pay a £3000 membership to Fareshare for a weekly delivery of food which includes fruit and veg, we ask for a small donation of £2. For that the customer has at least one large bag full of food. If they don't have any money, that is no problem as there are a couple of benefactors who pay forward to cover anyone who is struggling financially.

Bodmin Way Community Larder has been set up to support families, individuals or anyone who is struggling to feed themselves or their families. Part of our ethos is to reduce food waste by sharing ambient and fresh fruit and vegetables. Due to the current economic climate many individuals and families are finding it increasingly difficult sometimes near impossible to feed themselves. We want to provide food and support to everyone who needs it.