We’re excited to announce the opening of our very first UK food pantry – right at the heart of Wigan – made possible through an incredible partnership with The Message Trust and Way Church. This launch marks a significant step forward in our journey to fight food poverty and share lasting hope with communities across the country. 

But this pantry is more than just shelves and supplies. It’s a place of connection, compassion, and care – where people are not only fed, but valued, supported, and uplifted. It’s where practical help meets spiritual hope, and where every visitor is treated with dignity and love. 

Hearing from Sam, the Enterprise Director at The Message Trust, was nothing short of inspiring. 

It all began five years ago in the wake of the Covid pandemic. With urgent needs mounting in Wythenshawe, The Message Trust sprang into action, preparing and delivering meals to families struggling to make ends meet. But as time went on, it became clear: emergency food drops were only a temporary fix. Something deeper, more sustainable, was needed. 

Out of this realisation, the Message Community Grocery was born – a movement designed not just to meet immediate needs, but to empower families, restore dignity, and build community. 

By partnering with local churches, The Message Trust has been able to plant these grocery stores right in the heart of neighbourhoods where they’re needed most – extending their reach far beyond what they initially imagined. 

Each Community Grocery Store bridges the gap between food banks and supermarkets, offering members access to affordable food – with shops starting from just £5. Members can visit multiple times each week, saving around £20–£25 per visit – a lifeline for many who are facing the challenging rising living costs. 

But the grocery store is just the beginning. 

Sam passionately shares how each location offers wrap-around support, from debt advice and job clubs to cooking classes and discipleship resources – all in partnership with the local church. The goal? Holistic help and eternal hope. 

One of the most powerful elements is the Pay-It-Forward scheme – where members can cover the cost of a shop for someone else in crisis. It’s members helping members, and it’s turning stores into communities of generosity and grace. 

So far, over 70,000 members have connected with a Community Grocery across the UK. That’s tens of thousands of lives being lifted every single day – practically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

And for Sam, the greatest joy? Seeing people come to know Jesus – and even seeing hundreds of these precious souls get baptised. For Sam, that’s what he is most passionate about. 

Thank you, Sam, for your vision, compassion, and unwavering commitment to sharing hope with communities across the UK. Your work is making an eternal difference.