THE Journal and Salisbury Radio are joining forces to launch an Easter Appeal to support organisations that help members of our community who need it the most.

The news and media organisations have joined forces for the 2024 Easter Appeal, which aims to support the food banks and community pantries that help look feed large numbers of people in the area.

In the run-up to Easter, the Easter Appeal aims to help boost donations to these organisations, raise awareness of their need, and break some myths and stigmas surrounding the use of their services.

The Easter Appeal is partnering with Salisbury Foodbank, which helps facilitate multiple foodbanks across the area, including Amesbury, Downton, and Durrington, as well as in Salisbury.

Salisbury Journal: Easter Appeal

It will also support Salisbury Pantry and Old Sarum and Longhedge Community Pantry.

The organisations are struggling to meet increasing demands with record numbers of people using their services and donations falling; things are reaching a critical point.

Salisbury Pantry currently supports 100 households weekly and regularly distributes around 10,000 items monthly.

The pantry works differently from a foodbank - they charge a small membership fee, allowing shoppers to buy food that would normally have a much higher value in a normal supermarket. There is also no need for referral.

They also stock fresh fruit and vegetables, fridge and freezer items, as well as tinned and store cupboard items.

Kimberley Barber, editor of the Journal, said: “We are very pleased to be involved with this campaign to help some very worthy causes.”

Salisbury Pantry’s manager, Abi Blake, said: “We’re very much about dignity and choice, so you come in and shop as though you are shopping in a supermarket.

“We go through 2,000 items weekly; we are desperate for donations to help meet the demand. Demand is increasing for memberships, and we need to meet that demand with donations if we can.”

Salisbury Radio’s managing director, David Harber, said: “When we heard of the challenges that these organisations are facing, we wanted to help. We wanted to help coordinate a mass collection of food items to help alleviate some of the pressure that food banks and pantries in Salisbury, South Wiltshire and West Hampshire are currently facing.”

The appeal will host a donation event at Tesco Extra on Southampton Road in Salisbury on Saturday, March 16. Salisbury Radio will broadcast live from the supermarket as we encourage as many people to make donation. All donations will then be distributed between our partner organisations to help support their work. On the same day, there will also be a collection at Salisbury FC’s Ray Mac stadium before their match with Merthyr Town as supporters are encouraged to ‘Bring a Tin to the Match’ on Saturday, March 16.

Further chances and locations for people to donate, which will be announced during the campaign.

The Easter Appeal aims to involve the whole community, from schools to workplaces and even sports teams.