Skip to content
HelpBLESS
MoneyFood & hunger

Neighbors' Pantry: keep the shelves full this summer

Help keep a free food pantry open for elderly neighbors in London.

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง London, England, United Kingdom3,507 views
Alexa W. Lee
Email verifiedPhoto verified
London
Since 2020, our volunteer team has run Neighbors' Pantry every Thursday from the back of a borrowed garage. We started with 25 families, and now we feed 348 each week. Donations have dropped by about 59% this summer, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 7 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the London market and keep every receipt. Each $40 feeds a family of four for a week. All of the funds go to groceries, fresh produce, and cold-storage costs. Where the $2,650 goes: โ€ข Refrigeration and electricity: $310 โ€ข Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $1,500 โ€ข Fresh vegetables and fruit: $840 If you can't give, please share this page. It does reach people. - Alexa

Updates from Alexa

  1. 53% there. we've booked the dates and paid the deposit. Thank you.

  2. 23% there. I made the first payment toward refrigeration and electricity. Thank you.

  • Enrique S. Guzmรกn ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $20

    โ€œKeep your head up. Been where you're, it gets better. - San Diegoโ€

  • Karin Paula Baumann ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ยท $10

    โ€œGood luck! - Duisburgโ€

  • Rainer Manfred Haas ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ยท $5

    โ€œWishing you the best. Thought of Alexa all day after reading this. - Augsburgโ€

  • Meena J. Thakur ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $30
  • Cora G. Russell ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ยท $20
  • Galih Ilham Winata ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ยท $100
  • Yanti Indah Kartika ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ยท $20

    โ€œYou got this. - Bandungโ€

  • Talha Adnan Hashmi ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ ยท $20
  • Pavithra M. Acharya ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $20
  • Hye-jin Na-young Song ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $30
  • Musa Daniel Popoola ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $30

    โ€œHang in there - Warriโ€

  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $100
  • Wagner Edson Martins ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท ยท $250

    โ€œKeep your head up - Guarulhosโ€

  • Hassan Ziad Farouk ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $30
  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ด ยท $5
  • Bola Yetunde Igwe ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ ยท $15
  • Fiona W. Abrahams ๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ยท $5

    โ€œBest of luck. - Stellenboschโ€

  • Kalyani L. Yadav ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ ยท $25
  • Greta Elena Martini ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น ยท $10

    โ€œThought of Alexa all day after reading this.โ€

  • Anonymous ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ยท $25

Reviews

3.1(18 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Kiran Kurup๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified donor
    Practical and effective help

    This experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people. The helper was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my outcome.

  • Ishita A. Pandey๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified donor
    Genuine person with a big heart

    This is what community support looks like. They didn't just offer generic advice; they provided personalized help tailored to my specific situation.

  • Maล‚gorzata Mazur๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑVerified helper
    Trustworthy helper

    Perfect example of someone making a real difference. They took time out of their busy schedule to help me and never made me feel like a burden.

  • Konjit Gebremariam๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡นVerified helper
    Genuine person with a big heart

    Couldn't have asked for better support. They listened carefully, understood my situation deeply, and provided thoughtful advice that actually worked. Thank you so much.

  • Ashwin Babu๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified donor
    Trustworthy helper

    This helper is honest and transparent about what they can do. They didn't overpromise, but they did deliver excellent results. I would definitely trust them again.

  • Mukesh Verma๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified donor
    Helped when no one else could

    This helper is honest and transparent about what they can do. They didn't overpromise, but they did deliver excellent results. I would definitely trust them again.

  • Ronnie T. Martinez๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญVerified donor
    Practical and effective help

    This experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people. The helper was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my outcome.

  • Samina Rehman๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐVerified helper
    Patient and understanding

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

  • Hรผlya Bozkurt๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ทVerified helper
    Restored my faith in humanity

    This is what community support looks like. They didn't just offer generic advice; they provided personalized help tailored to my specific situation.

  • Josefina Rodriguez๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญVerified donor
    Would recommend to anyone

    Perfect example of someone making a real difference. They took time out of their busy schedule to help me and never made me feel like a burden.

  • Neha K. Bedi๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified donor
    Patient and understanding

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

  • Malak Nasser๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฆVerified donor
    Reliable and compassionate

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

  • Vijay J. Chettiar๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณVerified donor
    Very responsive and caring

    Couldn't have asked for better support. They listened carefully, understood my situation deeply, and provided thoughtful advice that actually worked. Thank you so much.

  • Oky Sutanto๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉVerified helper
    Amazing support system

    I can't speak highly enough about this helper. They were available when I needed them, supportive when I felt lost, and practical in their solutions.

  • Sarah Matthews๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆVerified donor
    Helped when no one else could

    I was nervous about reaching out, but this person made me feel comfortable and supported from the very first interaction. Their help was invaluable.

  • Edgardo Navarro๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญVerified donor
    Changed my perspective

    The difference this person made in my life cannot be overstated. They were patient, kind, and persistent in helping me find solutions. Truly exceptional.

  • Liliana C. Bravo๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ดVerified donor
    Made me feel heard

    I was going through a tough time and this person's support was invaluable. They didn't judge, just helped. That kind of genuine compassion is rare these days.

  • Garba Salami๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌVerified helper
    Exactly what I needed

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

Questions & comments

Ask before you give. Email-verified members can comment and ask questions - no donation needed.

Sign in or create a free account to join the conversation.

  • Emma Vanessa SchรคferQuestionPhoto verified

    Can I help in a way that isn't money? I'm near London

    • Alexa W. LeeOwnerAnswerPhoto verified

      Thank you. If you're in London I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. Fair thing to want to know.

  • Omolara Chioma SalamiPhoto verified

    Hope this works out for you. Love from Leeds.

    • Shared this with my family. My brother had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. Take care.

      • How is Alexa doing now?

        • Shared this with my family. My cousin had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. All the best.

          • what exactly is the $2,650 for?

            • Good luck, Alexa. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it. Greetings from Leeds

              • who gets the funds, you or the wholesaler?

                • Alexa W. LeeOwnerAnswerPhoto verified

                  It comes to me first, then I pay the wholesaler myself and upload the receipt. I wouldn't be comfortable any other way. Happy to explain more.

              • Best of luck, Alexa. Projects like this are what make a place worth living in. Thinking of London.

                • You're not alone. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Thinking of London.

                  • Sending love, Alexa. Gave what I could, wish it was more. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too.

                    • So sorry you're going through this, Alexa. Shared this with my family. It's not much but it's yours. Take care.

                      $2,426.50 raised of $2,650

                      Give

                      More people who need help