Choice Housing has made a £5,000 donation to the Reset Social Supermarket, helping to bolster efforts to tackle food insecurity and support families in the greater Coleraine area.
The contribution was provided through Choice’s Tenant Support Fund and will be used to support the supermarket’s membership programme for local people experiencing financial hardship.
The Reset Social Supermarket, coordinated from Vineyard Compassion’s Centre on Hillman’s Way, offers individuals access to fresh, frozen and cupboard food, toiletries and household cleaning products through a nominal weekly subscription of up to six months. For example, a household of two adults and two children can receive between £30 and £40 worth of food for just £10 a week, either in person or online. The membership also includes a wraparound service designed to support people in making positive financial decisions to improve stability and home life.
On average, around 25 volunteers assist some 422 individuals each month, including approximately 220 through food bank support and a further 67 through Reset. Those supported include families, unemployed individuals, people on benefits and those in work but struggling with the cost of living and rising food prices.
Aidan McCrea, Financial Inclusion Manager at Choice, said: “This support will go directly towards helping local individuals and families experiencing food insecurity gain access to affordable, nutritious food and essential household items. In a time when the cost of living continues to put pressure on low-income households, we feel this type of practical, community-focused intervention is timely and incredibly impactful. Reset’s holistic, wraparound model equips people with the tools and support they need to break the cycle of poverty for the long-term.”
He added: “We commend volunteers’ ongoing commitment to uplifting communities and working alongside local partners to ensure that no individual or family living in Coleraine must face food insecurity alone.”
Ricky Wright, CEO at Vineyard Compassion, said: “On behalf of everyone at Vineyard Compassion, we’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to Choice for their generous £5,000 donation to support our Social Supermarket. This contribution will have a direct and lasting impact on individuals and families across Coleraine who are struggling with the rising cost of living. At Vineyard Compassion, we believe that every person deserves the opportunity to move from crisis to their full potential, and Choice’s support helps make that possible.”
He added: “We are deeply grateful to Choice and its supporters for investing in the wellbeing of our local community. The money will be used to support food provision within Vineyard Compassion, helping us to continue offering affordable food to individuals and families in need.”
