A NORTH Glasgow community pantry will buy thousands of grocery shops after a generous contribution.

Courtyard Pantry received £5000 from Allied Vehicles Charity Trust, their biggest donation to date.

Thanks to this money, the pantry will be able to provide its members with 2000 grocery shops.

Operated by Flourish House in partnership with Queen’s Cross Housing Association, the pantry was restructured in response to the Covid pandemic a year ago.

The facility operates on a membership model, where people pay £1 to join and when they carry out a shop, they pay a further £2.50.

In return they receive between £10 and £15 worth of shopping.

Glasgow Times: ) The new-look Courtyard Pantry which has received £5,000 funding from Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust) The new-look Courtyard Pantry which has received £5,000 funding from Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Glasgow Times: A pantry member picks up his Friday night takeawayA pantry member picks up his Friday night takeaway

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Dale Todd, Courtyard Pantry coordinator said: “Even though it’s £2.50 per shop, sometimes people don’t have that. So, what we can do is build up a little reserve where we can give people free shops.

"This £5000 could provide 2000 shops that’s 20,000 items of food, and would be the equivalent, maybe of £20,000 worth of food.”

Gerry Facenna, Co-owner and Chairman of Allied Vehicles Group said:  “When the committee heard about The Courtyard Pantry, they were really keen to help.

"We know Covid-19 has hugely increased problems with food poverty, particularly in North Glasgow, where our headquarters are.

"The efforts of the pantry are clear for everyone to see, and we’re delighted to be able to support such a worthy cause.

“When we set up the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, we were keen to find amazing local charities who do great things in their community and the Courtyard Pantry really fit with the aims of the Trust.

"We hope to be able to help many more charities like this with the Trust.”

Since it opened, membership has grown to more than 1000, the pantry has distributed over £150,000 of food – around 100,000 meals – and given out 7000 free food and household items to people in crisis.