Pantry opens in Stalybridge

A new community pantry has opened in Stalybridge and marked the launch of The Power of Resilience’s third community pantry and its second based in the town, hosted at a Sunflower Day Nurseries site. The pantry is designed so that anyone can take food without referral or questions, aiming to remove the stigma often associated with food support.

Founder Julie Mallinson explained that the pantry operates on a help‑yourself model, allowing people to pick up what they need at any time, especially during the current cost‑of‑living pressures.

From bookcase to lifeline

The first pantry in Stalybridge began three years ago as a simple bookcase with tarpaulin outside Julie’s home, before volunteers helped turn it into a more robust structure. That early pilot revealed the level of local need and led to the creation of multiple permanent pantry sites across Tameside.​

The Power of Resilience now distributes hundreds of kilograms of food each month to people living on the edge of poverty, while also running workshops and wellbeing activities to support wider resilience. The organisation has earned local recognition for its impact, including being named a finalist in community impact awards.​

To stock the pantries, the team works closely with nearby supermarkets including Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer, collecting surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. Donations from local residents are also welcomed, with larger contributions dropped at central hubs and smaller items placed directly into the pantry.​

The project emphasises an eco‑friendly approach by encouraging volunteer collectors who already live, work or shop near partner stores so that extra car journeys and emissions are kept to a minimum. This model allows the scheme to combine food support with a strong environmental message around cutting waste.​

Community kitchen for Christmas

Alongside the new pantry, The Power of Resilience is preparing to open a community kitchen in Stalybridge, planned to start serving in mid‑December and run over the Christmas period. The kitchen will turn surplus ingredients into soups and hot meals, which will be offered free to anyone in need.​

The project aims to ensure “hungry bellies get fed this Christmas” while also bringing people together around shared food and fellowship. Organisers say the combination of pantries, hot meals and community support will offer a vital safety net for local families during one of the hardest times of the year.

For more information, follow The Power of Resilience CIC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ResiliencywithGod