Pop-up Food Bus
The need for an affordable food project was first highlighted by Chelmsford Food Alliance back in 2021 post covid and the ensuing cost of living crisis. Food banks were, and still are, under an enormous pressure with more people finding themselves in crisis and struggling to feed themselves and their children. St Francis Community Pop Up Food Store is the first and only mobile affordable food store in Chelmsford. We aim to provide a helping hand with the weekly shop, taking the pressure off and maybe allowing money to be spent elsewhere; bills, birthdays, paying off debt….
We currently only offer ambient food due to storage restrictions, but we would love to be able to offer chilled and even frozen food in time. Members sign up for £10 in the first week and receive a shopping bag and their first week’s shop. Each visit after that is just £5 and they leave with around £20-£30 worth of groceries
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We also offer free refreshments and a place to sit and chat and meet others. Social isolation goes hand in hand with food poverty and we are keen to help in all areas of life. We are seeking to provide wrap around services in time too such as debt counselling, budget planning, housing and benefit information.
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