The Store Cupboard in West Ealing has been helping people impacted by the cost-of-living crisis by providing heavily-discounted food to those in need. 

The Store Cupboard was founded in 2020 after volunteers provided food to vulnerable people from the Charity of William Hobbayne in Hanwell and now provide food at low prices to those who have been referred to the charity. 

Much of the food is provided by the Felix Project, a London-wide initiative who collect unused food from suppliers which would normally go to waste and give it to organisations to distribute to those who need it. 

Sharon Averill, one of the directors of the Store Cupboard said: "The majority of our service users are families, but we also support individuals depending on their personal circumstances – they may be in emergency accommodation or be a survivor of domestic abuse. 

"We also provide signposting services for those needing additional advice and support, for instance, eligibility for benefits or budgeting advice.  

"While the pandemic may be considered 'over', feelings of social isolation remain for some people, especially when it comes to financial hardship." 

The Store Cupboard supports 45-50 families and allows those who have been referred to them to come and pick out food like you would in a normal supermarket and charge them £3.50 for a shop that would normally cost £40-45. 

As well as receiving help from the Felix Project, they have also been supported by the Hanwell Hootie music festival doing fundraising efforts, as well as the Ealing Half Marathon offering places to those who have raised money for them, the Hanwell DIG Project and residents with allotments provide fresh food, and Ealing Council helped them secure their premises. 

Councillor Jasbir Anand, cabinet member for thriving communities said: "We are seeing unprecedented levels of hardship because of the cost-of-living crisis. Community projects such as this are prime examples of how people can come together to help and support each other during challenging times." 

Find out more about the Store Cupboard on their website.