Community pulls together to support Hyndburn Food Pantry refurbishment

A local food pantry has enjoyed an exciting new refurbishment of their premises on Broadway in Accrington.

Hyndburn Food Pantry is an affordable food club, which offers a sustainable and dignified model of community food provision. Based at 27 Broadway in Accrington town centre (BB5 1ES) and set up to make shopping a positive experience for those that need a bit of help, the Food Pantry encourages the people of Hyndburn to choose the food they want to and can eat.

The recent refurbishment project has seen all the old shelving and boarding removed and stripped right back to the walls, the installation of new boarding, racking and a brand new front counter, while a brand new kitchen has been installed and the Food Pantry’s membership system will also become digital.

The Food Pantry received a £38,500 grant from the National Lottery Fund towards the refurbishment, as well as to improve the infrastructure and for the purchasing of food, while £4,000 was donated by the Issa Brothers’ EG Foundation for the kitchen installation, and local company The Senator Group donated café furniture.

Alongside their food offering, Hyndburn Food Pantry also has a free community café, offering a warm space, refreshments and a place to meet others and have a chat. The café is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am-2 pm.

Eddy O’Brien, CEO of iMEP – International Music Event Production specialists – and Chair of Hyndburn Food Pantry, said: “It is fantastic to officially open the newly refurbished Hyndburn Food Pantry.

“Having opened its doors in October 2021, the Food Pantry was in need of a fresh new look and we are really happy and excited with the results.

“The whole idea of the Food Pantry is to make shopping a positive experience for people that need a bit of help and this refurbishment allows us to do that even more.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in the refurbishment, including The EG Foundation and The Senator Group.”

iMEP offers everything from lighting, sound, staging and special effects, to fully managed music and theatre event production.