Good Things Really Do Come to Those Who Wait
Launching a Pop-Up Pantry at the Rachel Leigh Community Hall
By Joy Baker, Rachel Leigh Pantry Lead
Food insecurity and the rising cost-of-living continue to impact families and individuals across Southwark. At Pecan, we’ve been working to address this through new, accessible ways of getting good food to the people who need it most. One of our latest projects is a Pop-Up Pantry at Rachel Leigh Community Hall in Walworth, and part of a pilot project to bring affordable, healthy food into local neighbourhoods. This month, hear from the Rachel Leigh Pantry Lead Joy Baker.
‘A brilliant service to the community.’
– Rachel Leigh Pantry customer
A Chance Encounter
As the volunteer lead for this pantry, I wanted to share a little of the story behind it and how a chance conversation, years ago, planted the seed for what’s happening today.
I first heard about the Peckham Pantry back in 2019 at the Southwark Civic Awards, held at Southwark Cathedral. Both Pecan and I were being recognised for our contributions to community life. After the ceremony, I had a brief chat with Pecan’s former CEO, Chris Price who mentioned a new idea they were developing – a social pantry.
Naturally, I was interested and I suggested the Rachel Leigh Community Hall as a potential site. Sadly, at the time it wasn’t suitable and I remember feeling deeply disappointed. My local councillors had often referred to our neighbourhood as a “food desert” – a place where access to affordable, fresh food is limited. The nearest supermarket was far from ideal, especially for elderly residents and those with mobility challenges.
Fast Forward Five Years…
‘My local councillors had often referred to our neighbourhood as a “food desert” – a place where access to affordable, fresh food is limited.’
I could never have imagined that five years later, I’d be sitting down again with Pecan staff this time, planning the launch of a Pop-Up Pantry at the very same community hall.
And just like that, the wheels were in motion.
Within months, we launched the Rachel Leigh Pop-Up Pantry, welcoming special guests from the local authority – Councillors John Batteson and Natasha Ennin, and most importantly our neighbours. It was an incredible moment, years in the making.
A Warm Welcome and a Hot Lunch
Since then, the pantry has been running every Tuesday from 11am to 2pm. To make the experience even more welcoming, we started offering a weekly hot lunch made from ingredients that come through the pantry. Baked potatoes have already become a local favourite.
One moment that really touched me came just last week. An elderly woman visited the pantry for the first time. She told me she hadn’t been able to use the main Peckham Pantry for over three years as it was just too far and took two buses to reach. But this new pop-up, she said, was “right on my doorstep” and called it “a brilliant service to the community.” That’s exactly why we’re here.
Rachel Leigh Pop-Up Pantry
Every Tuesday, 11am–2pm
Rachel Leigh Community Hall,
32 Andrews Walk SE17 3JQ
(P5 bus stops right outside on John Ruskin Street)
- Find out more about our Food Service Peckham Pantry and Pecan: pecan.org.uk/peckham-pantry
- Pantry Volunteering opportunities: Email Temi: pantry@pecan.org.uk
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and our new WhatsApp Channel to keep update with Pecan, or sign up for our newsletter.
Joy Baker, Volunteer Manager, Rachel Leigh Community Hall and Chair for Brandon 2 Tenants’ & Residents Association
