TUESDAY saw the launch of the Best Before Store in Rockwell Green.

The community food delivery project has been supported by Somerset West and Taunton Council and is the third food delivery project to launch in the area, after the Rowbarton Food Pantry in Taunton and the West Somerset Food Cupboard in Minehead.

Members can pay £4 a week to access food that would cost £15-20 in shops.

As well as this, they have information on support services, children’s activities, a social area, and will even have events such as cookery demonstrations.

Cllr Chris Booth, who attended the launch alongside the Mayor of Wellington, Mark Lithgow and County Councillor Andy Govier, added: “It was truly an honour to see the hard work which has been put in to get to this point, being led by dedicated volunteers with the community at heart. This is a template to be used in other parts of our district as the cost-of-living crisis bites further.”

Andy Felix looking after the produce on offer. (Tindle News)

The food will mainly be sourced via the charity Fareshare, who redistribute surplus food via community and charitable groups to those who need it most.

Richard Appleby, a volunteer for the BBFS said: “This is about building a community and giving people the power to choose what they want, instead of being handed a bag of food they will be given recipe advice and a social space to chat with others.”

The organisation is aiming for charity status but hasn’t achieved it yet.

The four churches in the Wellington area are supporting the BBFS and many of the volunteers are from the church background.

The team hosted a successful opening day (Tindle News)

Andy Felix, a volunteer who has a background in food retail as a general manager said: “This event is not only good for the people but it is also better for the environment, it reduces air mileage, carbon footprint and uses food that would otherwise go to landfill. We are also offering recipe advice for any food that may be more unusual like squash or courgettes.”

Future plans for the expansion of the Best Before Food Store include cooking lessons for the local community and activities that will cater to different groups within the community.

If you would like to become a member, email [email protected] or call 07490 196095.