Introducing, The Gull’s Pantry

Hey Gull Gang!

We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes to improve our community pay it forward board.

After consulting with the frequent users of pay it forward and looking at the donation budget we’ve decided to close the board and open the Gull’s Pantry.

Why are we changing?

Pay it forward has been a lovely way for us to get in touch with the folk in our community who would not ordinarily walk into a shop like ours and feel comfortable.

Unfortunately, as the board became more well known, we never had enough resources on it to supply everyone. We found we were saying no more than we were saying yes, and this took a toll both on our mental health and on our relationship with our neighbours.

The pay it forward board provided a much needed service, and the uptake proved that. As we move to this different model we’d like to thank everyone who supported the board, who rounded up their bills and who made incredible donations.

You supported unhoused folk, you made sure people who had been sanctioned had shopping to get them through, you helped young mums, and older people, you provided chocolate, veg, milk, and eggs. Thank you.

The Pantry

With any project, we aim to be useful to those that engage with it. So to this end we have consulted people that use the pay it forward the most and believe this new project will do more good for less money. So let’s get into it.

What is the Gull’s Pantry?

The Gull’s Pantry is a section of our store, and of our fridges, where everything is free. For those who have been in, this will primarily be where the rescue box lives.

To begin with, we have used some funds from the pay it forward donation pool, and some of our operating budget to populate this with commonly purchased items and requests. From opening onwards we will make lists with suggested donations.

We will be monitoring need and usage over the first month to decide if we need to place limits on how much is taken. But, we believe that this will self-regulate for the most part.

Fruit and veg will be included, as well as some chilled items.

How to use it

Our pantry is visibly located to the right of our door as you come in. For packaged goods, stickers will be placed over the bar codes to make sure we don’t charge if folk want to buy something and use the pantry.

You can fill up a basket or a bag, and if you need help please ask any of us behind the till.

We will also take donations of food and goods. So you will see some things that aren’t available on our shelves.

How to donate

Cash - when you are in for your shopping, why not add a pound or two?

Paypal - you can set up a monthly payment if you like or just do a one off.

Goods - We will take toiletries and household supplies in a good condition.

Food - Food donated should be unopened and in date, they can come from any shop, not just ours.

Lastly

We’ll let this run as a test through to 2024. If it doesn’t work, we’ll change again. As always we’ll take the feedback to heart.

Thank you all for the continued support. We are so grateful.

The Gulls.