Resurrected Bites opens its doors to welcome new members to its community groceries
With the cost of living continuing to rise, we hosted an open day at our community grocery in Harrogate to welcome new members.
Our groceries at New Park Primary Academy, Harrogate and Gracious Street Methodist Church in Knaresborough offer an affordable way for people to access good quality, nutritious food. They’re not food banks where food is free and choice is limited. They run through a subscription scheme and for a small, annual fee, members have access to the shop, can select the items they want just like in a normal shop or supermarket, but only pay a fraction of the price.
Michelle Hayes, CEO of Resurrected Bites said: “The perception is that Harrogate and Knaresborough are affluent places, so there can’t be a need for initiatives like community groceries, but that’s simply not true. Since we started the community groceries we’ve seen a growing number of people facing food poverty, many who are working but just can’t make ends meet. And this problem looks set to get worse as council tax, water and energy bills increase significantly from April. We’d love to be able to help more people who need some extra support. Everyone is welcome, we’re here to help, not to judge.”
A customer added: “I’ve been shopping at the Resurrected Bites community groceries for the last couple of years and it’s made a real difference to me and my family. It’s a lifeline if you’re on a tight budget, it gives you a bit of breathing space. At first, I was a bit nervous about coming because I thought people would judge me, but everyone was so friendly and welcoming and I was treated with dignity and respect. It’s about so much more than just food – it’s about community, friendship and support which are just as valuable to me as the food that I buy.”
As well as offering an affordable way for people to buy food and other household items, the community groceries also reduce waste by using surplus food from supermarkets and other suppliers that might otherwise end up in landfill. Much of the food is donated because of over-supply issues or because it is close to its ‘best before’ date, so everything sold is completely safe.
