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Weekly meals for neighbors in need in Edinburgh

The Open Hands Pantry pantry in Edinburgh is running low just as demand rises; $2,500 will stock it for 10 weeks.

🇬🇧 Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom2,005 views
Since 2023, our volunteer team has run Open Hands Pantry every Sunday from the back of a borrowed garage. We started with 22 families, and now we feed 263 each week. Donations have dropped by about 50% this rainy season, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 10 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Edinburgh market and keep every receipt. Each $45 feeds a family of four for a week. I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday. Where the $2,500 goes: • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $580 • Baby formula and diapers: $280 • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $1,640 Please ask me anything in the questions section. I'll answer honestly and quickly.

Updates from Asher

  1. Thank you all. We're at 48% now ($1,188). I'm honestly stunned. we've booked the dates and paid the deposit.

  2. Thank you all. We're at 19% now ($476). I'm honestly stunned. the plan for rice, beans, flour and oil is now scheduled. - Asher

  • Lucy Turner 🇺🇸 · $20
  • Anonymous 🇲🇽 · $10

    “Wish I could do more. My father told me about this one. - Tijuana”

  • Taghreed Darwish 🇺🇸 · $20
  • Sophie Anaïs Hubert 🇫🇷 · $5
  • Dustin L. Gill 🇳🇿 · $10
  • Antoine Yann Mercier 🇫🇷 · $30
  • Miles T. Patel 🇺🇸 · $25

    “Thought of Asher all day after reading this. - San Francisco”

  • Onyango Samuel Mukasa 🇰🇪 · $5
  • Surafel Ephrem Jemal 🇪🇹 · $100
  • Dennis B. Pascual 🇵🇭 · $20
  • Sarah Naama Katz 🇮🇱 · $25
  • Inna Lyudmila Romanov 🇺🇦 · $45.50

    “All the best. Hope the December deadline works out. - Kyiv”

  • Anonymous 🇹🇷 · $20
  • Anonymous 🇵🇱 · $25
  • Barış Gökhan Şen 🇹🇷 · $20

    “All the best. Please keep us posted. - Kadıköy”

  • Anonymous 🇳🇱 · $50
  • Teresa M. Larson 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Yasmin Reem Bouzid 🇲🇦 · $100
  • Kunal T. Pandya 🇮🇳 · $20
  • Anonymous 🇪🇸 · $5

Reviews

2.3(6 reviews)

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

  • Njeri Nabirye Mwangi🇺🇬Verified donor
    Practical and effective help

    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.

  • Alejandra G. Franco🇲🇽Verified donor
    Exceptional service

    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.

  • Atul M. Gala🇮🇳Verified helper
    Honest and trustworthy

    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.

  • Reza Kurniawan Kusuma🇮🇩Verified donor
    Great help in a difficult time

    The help I received was exactly what was described and more. This person follows through on their commitments and genuinely cares about making a positive impact.

  • Imran L. Abrahams🇿🇦Verified helper
    Truly grateful for the support

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

  • Sevgi Melek Yıldız🇹🇷Verified helper
    Delivered on promises

    The support I received was beyond what I expected. Not only did they help with the immediate need, but they also provided guidance for long-term solutions. I'm forever grateful.

Questions & comments

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  • Hang in there, Asher. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Love from Mombasa.

    • Hope it all works out, Asher. More neighborhoods should do this. Wish I lived closer to Christchurch so I could bring a meal. Love from Dhaka

      • Wishing you the best. Hope you get there. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money. Thinking of Edinburgh

        • wishing you peace. This could happen to any of us. It's not much but it's yours. Love from Paris!

          • You're not alone. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. My sister had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. Greetings from Riyadh.

            $2,298.50 raised of $2,500

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