Volunteers at a Crewe community group dedicated to tackling food poverty say Co-op funding has helped them provide support to 50 more families.

Chance Changing Lives volunteers were amazed when their Community Pantry in Coronation Crescent was given a boost with a £7,354.11 windfall from the Co-op's latest round of Local Community Fund payouts.

Co-op Members lent their support via their membership cards and nominated Chance Changing Lives as their local cause.

Each year Co-op stores ask local people to nominate deserving community causes to benefit from its Local Community Fund. Every time Co-op Members buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes into their Co-op Membership account and Co-op gives the same to support community organisations and local causes.

The extra funds allowed the Community Pantry to expand its offer to families hard hit by pandemic pressures and changes in Universal Credit.

The Pantry is run as membership scheme where families can retain their dignity by shopping for a nutritious shopping basket every week. A £3 a week membership fee entitles them to a choice of up to £20 worth of discounted food and products from the shelves and fridges.

Chance Changing Lives Manager Michele Parks says that at the time she made the application to be included among the Co-op local causes in 2020, the charity was delivering free food to over 110 families in the greatest need.

"We delivered for 28 weeks in the teeth of the pandemic," she recalled. "We anticipated that we may have to continue with this indefinitely, so we were delighted when we could safely reopen our Pantry and Homeless Kitchen to people experiencing deep poverty.

"Co-op funding helped us to expand our Pantry service to meet the needs of an additional 50 families, as the impact of the pandemic, inflation rises, reduction of £20 to Universal Credit and increased cost of living was felt hardest by people already struggling.

"We thought we'd get about £500 from the Co-op which would have meant 1,500 more meals for hungry stomachs. But we were absolutely stunned by the number of loyal Co-op Members who added us as their local cause on their membership cards."

The funding has ensured Chance Changing Lives has been able to restock its Pantry with food bought from selected wholesalers.

The Pantry receives many generous donations of food from local Co-op stores and local companies such as recycling firm Synetiq, who helped it acquire an electric delivery van.

Extra food is often needed, particularly items like fish fingers and chicken pieces, as well as fresh produce.

"Donations like those from the Co-op mean we can buy additional food to stock our fridges, freezers and shelves when stocks get low," stressed Michele. "Our shoppers' firm favourites like sausages, chicken pieces and meals in a tin sometimes fly off our shelves quicker than we can re-stock.

"And by buying in more fresh fruit and veg for our shoppers each week, we are closing the veg gap for people struggling to make ends meet."

Michele added: "We are so grateful for the support of all the Co-op Members and colleagues who not only helped to raise these much-needed funds, but also donate food too good to throw away, which can be used by our members to make healthy meals."

When you buy selected Co-op products and services two pence for every £1 spent goes into membership accounts with the same amount donated by the Co-op to chosen local causes, like Chance Changing Lives.

Supporting these local causes aligns with the Co-op's mission of fairer access to food, mental wellbeing and opportunities for young people.

Select your local cause today at coop.co.uk/local-causes or go to the Co-op App.

Co-op Membership helps support Co-op's national charity partners and Local Community Fund causes. See www.coop.co.uk/membership