A SOUTHAMPTON community pantry is extending its opening hours to help more families in need. 

Oasis Community Pantry, based at Sholing Football Club, hopes to help more residents facing financial hardship in the cost of living crisis.

The food and household items bank is now open from 9.30am to 6pm - an extension from its previous closing time of 1pm.

It means people working full time can access the pantry.

READ MORE: New pantry launches to help families struggling with cost of living

Community hub leader Karen Dawkins, 61, said that since the opening hour extension 13 new families have signed up to use the pantry.

She said: "The response has been really positive to the time extension.

"We wanted to give working families the opportunity to access the pantry and it's been a big success for us.

"It's been two Thursdays since we increased our hours but because of the increasing number of people singing up to the panty, we are struggling.

"Donations are needed to keep the pantry full for everyone that needs it. Luckily people have been good about it.

"The academies we are tied with have done a big push with staff and will be doing another with students to get more donations for us.

"That's the great thing about our pantry. Donations are provided by the community for the community."

The pantry is supported by The Big Difference, a food redistribution project in Southampton, Co-op, Tesco, and Oasis Academy Mayfield and Sholing.

Karen said the pantry is "desperate" for meals that can be cooked in microwaves as rising bills mean families can't keep ovens on for long.

The pantry is currently looking for donations of tinned meats, tinned meat meals, soups, pasta, pasta sauces, rice, spaghetti, toilet rolls, and bleach. 

Donations to the community pantry can be dropped off at Oasis Academy Mayfield and Oasis Academy Sholing during school hours.

The pantry is also accepting donations during its opening hours at Sholing Football Club on Thursdays from 9.30am to 6pm. 

For more information, visit: oasiseastsouthampton.org

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