Community Grocery opens on Corporation Road in Darlington

A Community Grocery store opened at Darlington Baptist Church off Corporation Road on Tuesday (December 3) to support people in need by offering discounted bundles of shopping.

For a £5 yearly membership, customers can enter and choose their own items from a multitude of shelves - including everything from fresh vegetables to drinks, sanitary products and nappies.

Community Grocery opens at The Baptist Church Centre on Corporation Road pictured Jill Mallen National Training Manager and Neil Brumby manager (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Just an hour after it had opened, the grocery was nearing 100 members - as bosses say they are "prepared" for a huge influx of demand in the lead up to Christmas.

Jill Mallen, one of the national training managers, expressed her joy at the response from the community and explained how the grocery works.

She said: "We have had such a big response on social media. We are more than just a grocery and we are here to help.

"The important thing for us is that people have a choice."

Community Grocery Darlington. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) For just £5, shoppers can pick up 12 items from shelves, with some less basic items including things like energy drinks and chocolate bars counting as two.

The largest bundle costs £12.50 and includes 30 items from the store, which gets its donations from shops and businesses. 

Neil Brumby from Darlington is the new manager of the grocery. For him, this store has been a long time coming.

Staff at the Community Grocery, Darlington. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) He said: "This has been talked about within the church for the last two or three years. But then, in July we were advised that there was funding available.

"It's been very busy this morning - late last week we had about 60 people sign up and now we've had another 40 or so.

"Because of the cost of living crisis, people are struggling to make ends meet. We hope this improves in the next couple of months."

Community Grocery Darlington. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Community Grocery opens at The Baptist Church Centre on Corporation Road, pictured Rev Barry & Vicky Thompson Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

However, the grocery is just one of the facilities that can be used by members.

Debt advice, budget courses, parenting courses, addiction recovery and mental health support are also on offer at the church free of charge.

'We exist to help the community in any way we can'

For Reverend Barry and Vicky Thompson, the leaders of the Baptist Church, they think the grocery will become a "lifeline" for the community. 

Recommended:

• Over 100 coats donated in Darlington Coats for Christmas drive

Don’t miss out on our biggest sale of the year! Get a full year of the Northern Echo for only £25 or try 6 months for just £6. Support local journalism and stay informed about what matters most.

Vicky explained: "We struggled to get funding from this. But then heard of a businessman in Manchester who wanted to give £30,000 of funding - with the preface that we would raise the rest.

"Churches from across the country have helped it come together. This ward in Darlington is one of the most deprived in the country. There is a lot of need here - especially in the lead-up to Christmas.

"This grocery will become a real lifeline for some. For us,  I think that this is what the church is here for. We are here to serve the community. We exist to help the community in any way we can."

Community Grocery is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm every Monday to Friday.