Choices Community Shop is a community food project set up by volunteers in the community to provide food with dignity to those in need. The funding will be used to help reduce the impact of poverty within the community based on individual needs. Our Community Shop has capacity to support approximately 100 households per week but with over 400 registered, many have to wait. This grant will allow for more households to be able to get support when they need it by getting access as required.
Description
The ongoing increase to food is making it harder for Choices Community Shop to maintain a full range of produce. The grant will allow for the current range of products to be continued, especially through the depth of winter, when people have to choose whether to heat or eat.
Our older community of people are reliant on Choices Community Matters and we want to ensure that can have at least 3 good meals from what they purchase so this funding will go on the purchase of food to ensure that choice, value and dignity are preserved. Tackling food insecurity is our way of reducing poverty in our immediate community.
Food (tinned, frozen and fresh) £1000
Location: Choices Community Shop opened on 7th April 2021 in response to food insecurity during the Covid pandemic. Achieving charitable status the following year, Choices now serves 500+ households within the KA12 postcode area. This area within the Irvine Locality is the highest in the SIMD database and 6th in Scotland with The Fullarton and Harbourside communities both sit in the top SIMD areas in North Ayrshire. Lack of resources and access to services over the years, has resulted in lower incomes, poorer health and lower attainment skills. All of this has resulted in multiple barriers for the many individuals and families living in our community.
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