A month into the opening of Lincoln’s Community Grocery Store and people have been benefiting from a reduced weekly shop, and the budding community connection.
Photo: Tori Wood
During lockdown, Community Grocery helped deliver 60,000 food parcels to families across Wythenshawe, however the need for food increased as lockdown restrictions lifted.
Since then, Community Grocery stores began to form across England – with Lincoln being its tenth site.
Alive Church and Acts Trust, an organisation within the church who commit to fighting poverty in Lincolnshire, formed a partnership with The Message Trust in opening Lincoln’s first store at Central Methodist Church.
Customers pay a £5 yearly membership and can purchase a weekly shop for only £3 up to 3 times a week.
Photo: Tori Wood
Food Items include bakery, fresh fruit and vegetables, canned food, and chilled and frozen items. Free-from food is also available at the store for those with special dietary needs. Household items are included in the £3 shop which can include cleaning products and sanitary items.
Angeletia Padmore has been the grocery manager since opening. She said, “I’ve always been passionate about reducing food waste and feeding people, and making sure people get affordable food.”
“My first job in Lincoln was at Mint Lane Café where I was a manager for 2 years. We focused on reducing food waste and using food to turn it into three coursed meals for £3 – so it’s been a passion of mine for a long time.”
Padmore has watched the store benefit people every day. “A lot of people who wouldn’t normally go to food banks, or openly speak about their deprivation or lack of finance, have come here – from homeowners to elderly people.”
“I had an elderly lady come in who wasn’t sure how she’d gotten here or what it was that we do. She only had £5 to last her until the following Friday but was able to get her food shop. She said it was a blessing – a miracle – that she found our store.”
Photo: Tori Wood
“You just don’t know what’s going on. It’s been changing people’s lives. They know they’re a member and part of a family. You really get to build relationships and make a connection with everyone that comes in.”
A pay it forward system is available for those who cannot afford either a membership or a weekly shop, all of which are donated by members of the public alongside a post-it-note message to whoever benefits from the donation.
Photo: Tori Wood
Community Grocery would not be able to carry out such thoughtful work without their volunteers, who really are making the store such a great community for the public.
Angeletia said, “Without the volunteers we wouldn’t be able to run because there’s so much logistics to put in place, we need to be strategic, so we have an army of volunteers.”
If you’re interested in becoming part of the Community Grocery team, get in touch with Angeletia at lincoln@communitygrocery.org.uk to volunteer today.