Emmeline’s Pantry, a food bank for vulnerable women, was first set up 14 years ago at the Pankhurst Centre in Manchester. It was started after Karen, a volunteer there, offered to tidy up a cupboard containing smart clothes for women to use if they needed to go to court. She and a fellow volunteer were asked to take over the running of the cupboard and they soon discovered there was a need to offer food as well to the women they were serving.
The organisation now offers food, toiletries, clothes and anything else it can to help support a woman in need to make her life easier. They are one of our long term Community Food Members accessing good-to-eat surplus food from our Openshaw warehouse.
Emmeline’s Pantry is run exclusively by women primarily supporting women. After a number of years based at the Pankhurst Centre, the organisation relocated to the Chorlton area around 6 years ago and now has a community garden and an allotment which is run by mixed-gender volunteers.
Supporting a fresh start through healthy food
Emmeline’s Pantry had a target initially to support women who have fled gender-based violence, modern day slavery, trafficking and domestic violence. However, over Covid, they noticed an increase in the number of women falling into food poverty and they extended their services to help them too.
Karen says of the food they receive from FareShare Greater Manchester, “It’s used in our food bank and it really, really helps. Since we first set up, we’ve had what’s classed as a ‘pantry model’ so we’ve always offered fresh food. For women who have fled gender based violence, a lot of them have been under very controlling relationships, so now they’ve moved out, they’ve been rescued, it’s all about getting them back on track and being able to make choices for themselves and choosing healthy food”.
Find out more about Emmeline’s Pantry and the services they offer, by checking out their website or look for Emmeline’s Pantry on social media.
