Celebrating Two Years of Community Impact: Donated van drives forward travelling food pantry

A van donated by housing association Aster Group has supported thousands of families with essential food deliveries across Test Valley.

In 2023, Aster donated a maintenance vehicle to local charity Unity, to help more people in rural communities have access to a new mobile pantry service.

The charity, based in Hampshire, helps people across local towns and villages who’re struggling with the cost of food.

Since its introduction, the van has supported 1,650 mobile pantry shops across three rural areas of Test Valley, bringing essential groceries directly to those in need.

As part of Unity’s coordination of the Andover Food Partnership’s “No Food Left Behind” project, the van has also helped distribute 1,400 food boxes to individuals and families facing homelessness or struggling with the rising cost of living.

During the colder months, the van played a vital role in delivering energy saving packs, including heaters, blankets, and draught excluders, to pantry users and others identified through Unity’s cost of living support services.

Gary Prince, Regional Operations Director at Aster said: “As soon as we heard about Unity’s plans for the new mobile pantry service, we were keen to support them. It has been a busy two years for Unity and we’re glad that the vehicle has helped them to reach more people with their valued services.”

Terry Bishop, Chief Executive at Unity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Aster Group for its generosity.

“This van has become a cornerstone of our outreach efforts, allowing us to serve our community in flexible and meaningful ways.”