New beginnings for Leslie pantry as it moves into new premises

The pantry can now be found at Quarry Brae Pavilion and will be open on Monday-Thursday from 10am-3pm and Friday from 10am-12.30pm.

Gayle Wilson said: “By teaming up with Glenrothes Foodbank we are able to help combat food poverty seven days per week. The first in the UK.

“Leslie Community Pantry will continue to operate as normal, the exact same way since we began. However we now have the opportunity to help families in need with much greater food parcels.

“Allowing families breathing space to put support in place to better the lives of themselves, and their families.

“This is a fantastic step forward for the Leslie community and none of this would be made possible without the incredible response that the pantry has received since we began operating back in April.”

A spokesperson for Glenrothes Foodbank added: “During lockdown this year, we were blown away with the community response to helping those in crisis.

“Many groups popped up and stepped up and we are so grateful that they did. During a time when we were unsure how we could safely operate or whether we could help the increased need, they helped the community by providing food in a dignified way and we have forged fantastic relationships and friends ships with the community groups.

“One group stood out in particular, ‘Leslie Pantry’. An inspirational group who saw their community in crisis and were determined to do all they could from a table outside a pub, they opened daily and helped families from Leslie with food.

“They also recognised the huge isolation issue that was developing in their town and actively kept an eye on those in the community at real risk from social isolation. What a team!

“We are so proud to say that they have joined our team to fight and campaign against food insecurity in Glenrothes on a daily basis.

“To Gayle and the team, welcome and we are so excited that we are doing this together.”

For more information visit the new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LeslieFoodbank. You can also still keep up to date at www.facebook.com/lesliecommunitypantry.