Liverpool pub becomes food parcel hub

The Gardeners Arms in Liverpool has teamed up with Liverpool Zero Waste Community CIC, turning the site into a pick-up location for food parcels.

The local charity collects surplus food from various supermarkets and distributes out to the community.

Publican Sam Jones first came across the charity’s Facebook page and immediately reached out to see if she could help. Offering up the Punch Pubs & Co venue as a new pick-up location, she quickly became involved with the group’s campaign to help the community and save food from going to waste.

Now a volunteer for the charity, Jones hosts a weekly pop-up inside the pub where community members can bring a bag and help themselves to pastries, chilled goods and fresh vegetables.

Social care

"It’s always been a worry of mine that older members of the community may struggle to get food," she says. "The pub is close-by to high-rise flats and sheltered accommodation, and if you don’t have the support or family around you, some people may struggle to get out to the shops.

"When I saw the Liverpool Zero Waste Community CIC post, I immediately reached out to see if I could get involved. It’s a fantastic initiative, and it feels so good to give back to the community, especially during the cost of living crisis.

"We’ve only been running this for a few weeks, and already we’ve seen so many new faces. Two ladies came from another village last week, I asked them how they knew about us, and a friend had told them about what we were doing. It’s really catching on, considering I wasn’t sure how many people would come along, after each drop-in all we’ve had left is empty tables – it’s great."

A huge advocate for helping others, Jones sees the important role her pub and the team plays at being the heart of the community. She has run various days out and is currently transforming the pub’s garden to offer a social space for people to gather, sit and enjoy each other’s company.

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