Melksham Environment Group: The Community Larder

As a member of the Melksham Environmental Group (MEG), I would like to draw your attention to the Community Larder, which is open weekdays at the Round House in Church Street. 

It was set up by Adrienne Westbrook and myself three years ago and its aims are purely environmental and completely in line with those of MEG. Anyone can come along and take their pick of the foods available at the Larder. Food is collected from local supermarkets every day by a team of dedicated volunteers; food which would otherwise have been dumped in landfill simply because a ‘best before’ date has, or is about to, expire. We rescue what would otherwise have been wasted.

We collect bread often fresh, uncut loaves, bread rolls, French sticks, pitta breads and some of practically everything you see on sale every day in the bakery, also vegetables, salad items and fruit, all perfectly okay to eat. From time to time there may be something special, such as all the frozen turkey breasts left over from Christmas or unsold Easter eggs and after bank holidays when, for some reason, it is assumed that we will all eat twice as much as usual, resulting in a lot of left-over food. More than once, we have had a huge consignment of bags of potatoes, carrots, mushrooms or some other bagged vegetables, particularly at Christmas. We are also often in receipt of local, home-grown produce from kind people who, like us, cannot abide waste.

We are often confused with, or seen as the same as, the food bank, which is a completely different organisation and is related to need. The Community Larder is based solely on benefitting the environment and is available to anyone and everyone. Each and every one of you who visits us and takes something away to eat is in some small way helping the environment.

Opening times vary a little with the seasons, so please check the Facebook page for up-to-date information. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Pat Aves, Melksham Environment Group info@mkmeg.org.uk