In response to the rising cost of living and environmental issues facing society, The Centre for Building Action (CBSA), in partnership with Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council have opened a Community Food Store on Station Road in Burry Port. The store provides the community with weekly access to great quality, healthy food for only £3.50 pr week; food which normally retails at between £15 and £20.
The food is sourced from a variety of suppliers with a large element of it being surplus food from supermarkets that is still within its sell by date. This is supplemented by food sourced at low prices from whole sellers plus seasonal vegetables harvested from the CBSA’s own growing schemes.
As well as being a low-cost way of shopping it also offers a low impact alternative to members of the community concerned about the environmental impact of waste. It makes use of surplus food provided by FareShare and local food stores and any product that is not used is sent to CBSA’s community composting site in Machynys or used to make hot meals for donation, so there is little or no waste from the store.
Michael Theodoulou, Chief Executive of the Centre for Building Social Action said ‘As a social justice charity, it’s vital that we’re able to support communities with life’s basics and this store does just that. It gives the local community access to great quality food at accessible prices, which is so important given prices are rising across the board and benefits are being cut, causing people a huge amount of anxiety’.
During the height of the pandemic, with funding provided by, WCVA’s Third Sector Emergency and Recovery Funds, CBSA in conjunction with the Town Council were able to roll out a food delivery scheme to people experiencing hardship and isolation. Building on this work it was delighted to receive funding from the Peoples Postcode Trust, that facilitated the move to Station Road.
Huw Thomas, the Town Clerk said ‘Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council are partners in this initiative in that they offered a home for the project during its initial set up, and we continue to support its work particularly with the recruitment of volunteers and signposting to its services’.
Deputy Mayor, Cllr Karen Morris said ‘It was important for the Town Council to partner on this project because the Store is offering something that is needed in the community; access to high quality, low cost food. Many of the families living here are concerned about making ends meet and putting food on the table, and the Store helps to alleviate those concerns. It also provides a no waste, low impact alternative to regular shopping’.
Thanks to the team of amazing, enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers that support the service, the Burry Port Community Store is open from 11am – 5pm every Tuesday and often has a queue of people waiting for it to open. Burry Port resident Paula Regler visits the store each week and said ‘The Store is a great help in making our pension money go a bit further. We take what we need to for the week and it helps us make ends meet’.
If you would like to find out more about visiting the store, or if you would like to support the Store by making in kind donations please visit the store between 11am – 5pm on Tuesdays. The Store is located at 38 Station Road, Burry Port, SA16 0LP. Or you can call Emma on 07932 998849 for more information.
