Membership

Our Pantry is only open to our members, who are families and individuals with limited disposable income. We are different from a Food Bank who offer help in a crisis & require a referral, whilst we can help in a crisis, we are here week in, week out to support families in a sustainable way.

For some people membership is only needed for a short while, but for others long term assistance is needed.  We simply request that at the time you no longer require our help each week with food, you let us know and you step back allowing another family to join for help.

Our membership criteria is simple and the click through form will ask some basic questions about your situation.  There is not a strict criteria for this, but things like receiving Universal Credit, or another income based benefit, or receiving free school meals, or working with a debt charity will automatically qualify a person.    However, we know that despite best efforts, a limited disposable income often means that food becomes the flexible budget when bills need to be paid.  Once you have submitted your application online we will then follow up with a further e-mail, or a telephone call, to ascertain a little more about your current situation, we do this to ensure that we are able to help those most in need. Please do let us know about the benefits you are receiving.  Once approved you can choose to visit us on a Thursday, when we are open all day, or on a Saturday morning.

If our membership is full, we may have to put you on a Wait List, but once approved we will endeavor to get you in with us as soon as is possible.

Due to unprecendented demand for support we are only accepting applications frrom Sturminster Newton, Okeford Fitzpaine, Child Okeford, Hazelbury Bryan & Marnhull.  Please see Alternative Food Help for other sources of help with food.

Sign up here!
(Once through, open the drop down box and choose Dorset the Vale)

Pricing

Our members pay £7.00 on each visit.  Payment can be made using a card or cash, or to help with weekly budgeting, a standing order can be set up.