A community grocery has opened in Knaresborough today to help people in need put food on the table.
Resurrected Bites, an organisation which battles food waste, is behind the new shop at Gracious Street Methodist Church.
It will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays between 9.30am and 3.30pm. The last people will be let in at 3pm.
It is the second community grocery set up by Resurrected Bites, which opened its first at New Park Community Hub in October.
Both operate in the same way. People who are struggling to make ends meet pay a small sum to become members an can then shop at the grocery.
It costs £5 a year to sign up as a member. You then pay £3, £6 or £9, depending on the size of your family, to shop for goods that would usually cost about £30 in supermarkets.
The majority of the food available would have gone to landfill but is too good to be wasted.
The stores have a wide range of tinned, fresh food and frozen food. They also stock toiletries, sanitary products and nappies in various sizes.
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Carolyn Aitken, the grocery manager, said
“So many people are struggling with rising food and fuel prices on top of all of the cuts to people’s income.
“We want to ensure that everyone can afford to eat a healthy diet so please let people know about our service if you know they are struggling.”
Michelle Hayes, the founder of Resurrected Bites, said:
“We are really grateful to Gracious St Methodist Church for giving us this dedicated room in the church for us to run the grocery from.
“We partnered with the church initially in January 2020 when we started a pay as you feel community café there.
“This means that people who become members of the grocery, can also come in for a drink and something to eat when they come to do their shopping.”
Resurrected Bites will continue to run its café in the Bridge cafe at the centre on Gracious Street from 10 am until 2pm every Tuesday and Friday.
