GAIL's Bakery Didsbury

Perry’s Pantry Foodbank, is based in an shop in Chorlton Manchester. We have been very lucky and get the shop premises for free, from Southways Housing Trust. We offer a pantry service – which is a great solution for those needing long term help. Clients can join the scheme for a membership fee of £5 per year and then can come in once a week and do a store cupboard weekly shop, for £5, £8 or £11 depending on their funds and family size. Food includes but is not limited to fresh fruit and veg, bread, meat, fish, ready meals, ambient foods, and non-food items such as sanitary products, toiletries etc. The client gets approx. double if not more of the value of their shopping bag, in terms of money spent. This week 5/8/2024 for £5 you would have got a loaf of bread a bag with onions, yellow peppers, new potatoes, tomatoes, apples, oranges, whole fresh pineapple, mushrooms, courgettes plus 8 tins of your choice, plus a non-food item e.g. shower gel, toothpaste, hand gel, soap. and one fridge item which could have been 6 yogurts, bacon, butter, chesses etc We also offer free sanitary products. We also provide cat and dog food. The customer also get free bread and cakes from Gail's bakeries which we leave on our counter and customer are allowed two free item out of the basket a week when they come in for their shop, so it can be shared by all. We also offer a referral-based service, where you need to obtain a valid referral before visiting us. This service is free and allows people in hardship e.g. just coming out of hospital, had their PIP stop, struggling with Universal Credit etc to obtain two weekly free parcels from us. Local professionals can fill in the referral form on Perry’s Pantry website or send us a referral letter. This can be completed by GP/Receptionist, Schools/Education centres, Local councillors, Health visitors/Midwives, Metal health workers, Citizen’s advice, Church wardens, District nurses, Jobcentre, Universal Credit coach, other charities etc. This summer we are once again able to feed our client children through the school holidays, providing them bread, butter, milk, cereal, cheese, ham, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, bananas, apples, oranges, cordial tin of beans, tin of ravioli at no extra cost to their parents. All this is possible through the generous donations we receive for the public and local company's

Southway Housing Trust are aiding in the fight against food poverty by giving support to those who need it most. The rise in food poverty and surge in the use of food banks has shown that many low income families are finding it difficult to feed and provide for their families. This has led to Southway's Quids In initiative to bring people together and tackle food poverty. Quids In operates 5 Food Club in South Manchester. Our membership has risen, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, to around 280 low income and vulnerable households every week. This is an increase of nearly 50% so there are more challenges than ever before around getting enough food and we have waiting lists we’re trying hard to work through as quickly as possible. Usual operation: Members pay £3 and can then visit our small shop and choose around £15 worth of fresh, chilled and ambient food supplied by food redistribution charity Fareshare and other donations. The clubs also act as a means of referring members to other support services. We now have 5 shops supported by volunteers serving Chorlton, Burnage and Withington areas of Manchester.

There are so many women and children in Manchester unable to make ends meet for reasons including benefit cuts, sudden job loose, sudden carer duties and illness. So many women have to chose between heating and children's nappies and this is a choice no woman should ever have to make. We aim to support women by providing food, toiletries and baby items to keep them going in times of hardship. We welcome the support from organisations and members of our community. Please get in touch if you can offer donations or financial contributions.