Persimmon has selected a community food pantry to receive a £1,000 donation.

Grangemouth Community Food Pantry was chosen by Persimmon Homes East Scotland to become one of its Community Champions. The scheme invites local groups and charities to bid for a match-funded donation of up to £1,000.

When told about the donation, Suzanne Wood, pantry worker said: “That is fantastic news, many thanks Persimmon Homes.

“The pantry is a dignified response for people facing food poverty. We are very much a community-based service run by volunteers to support people in Grangemouth. People that use the pantry are often on low incomes, unemployed or those that are struggling to make ends meet.

Currently running at full capacity the pantry offers membership subscriptions to 84 adults and 87 children and receive food from a range of sources including local business donations and the national food surplus project, Fareshare.

Suzanne added: “Our membership subscription is £2.00 per week and gives members a choice of at least 10 items of fresh and frozen produce, fresh fruit, vegetables, toiletries and store cupboard favourites.”

The Community Food Pantry aims to address the cause and effect of a lack of suitable food and nutrition experienced by young people and households in areas of deprivation and has plans to establish a community growing project to supplement fresh produce in the Spring.

Neil Parry, managing direct at Persimmon Homes East Scotland, said: “We were pleased to be able to help Grangemouth Community Food Pantry who do such an amazing job helping local people in crisis, particularly during the increased restrictions across Scotland.

“This is exactly the type of organisation that our Community Champions initiative was set up to support in the areas that we are working. “It’s heart-warming to hear about the time given by volunteers to support their community, particularly since the COVID-19 outbreak, and we look forward to hearing about their ‘growing project’ in the Spring.”

Persimmon Homes East Scotland is currently building a range of new homes at the Thornhill Wynd development on Etna Road, Falkirk.