SouthcotePantry

17/08/2026

Looking forward to seeing everyone again next week, 25 August.

Southcote Pantry Closure
​Hello everyone – Hobnob here with a little update!
​Due to circumstances beyond our control, Southcote Pantry won't be open on Tuesday 18th August.
​Don't worry – I'll be keeping watch over the pantry until we're back! We'll reopen as usual on Tuesday 25th August, from 3.30pm–5.30pm.
​The Southcote Pantry team look forward to seeing you all then.
​See you soon!
​Hobnob the Pantry Bear

03/08/2026

HOBNOB HAS A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE

16/07/2026

Some great things happening at The Weller Centre during the summer holidays.

16/07/2026

16/07/2026

Celebrating Two Years of Southcote Pantry! ❤️🎉

Two years ago, God placed a vision on our hearts: to share His love with the Southcote community in practical, everyday ways. Southcote Pantry was born from a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus—a place where everyone is welcomed without judgement, treated with dignity and reminded they are deeply loved by God.

Looking back, we're amazed at all God has done.

What began as providing affordable food has become so much more. We've seen lives changed, friendships formed, confidence restored and a genuine community grow. Every week, people come through our doors not just for food, but for a conversation, a cup of tea, encouragement, support and the reassurance that someone cares.

We're incredibly grateful to Southcote Family Church for so generously providing a home for the pantry. We want to thank and honour the church leadership and congregation whose prayers, encouragement and shared vision have helped this ministry flourish.

To every volunteer, donor and supporter—thank you. Your generosity, time and compassion have made a lasting difference to so many lives.

We're also thankful for the wonderful partnerships we've built over the past two years. Through our Parish Nurse, NHS Health Checks, Liver Screening and CommuniCare, we've been able to support people's physical, emotional and mental wellbeing alongside meeting practical needs.

Everything we do is rooted in the example of Jesus. We don't simply want to provide food—we want to share hope, extend grace and reflect Christ's love through both our words and our actions.

As we celebrate this milestone, we thank God for His faithfulness and for everyone who has been part of this journey. Our prayer is that the pantry will continue to be a place where people feel seen, valued and loved.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." — 1 John 3:18

Here's to the next chapter of serving our community together. ❤️

If you've never visited the pantry, we'd love to welcome you. Whether you need support or simply want to find out more, our doors are always open.

09/07/2026

A message from Hobnob, our new Pantries mascot.

👋 Hello everyone! I'm Hobnob, the Pantries' brand-new mascot.
On Tuesday, I went on my very first adventure to Southcote Pantry to find out what happens behind the scenes – and I had a brilliant time!

My first job was helping to sort through the stock. I made sure everything was in the right place... especially the Hobnob biscuits. It's only right that we never run out! 🍪😉

Next, I helped fill the fridge with fresh cheese, milk and meat. I have to say, the lamb shanks with mint gravy looked particularly delicious – I was very tempted!

After all that hard work, I put my IT skills to good use by helping with some admin. Who knew bears could be so tech-savvy?

When the Pantry opened, I swapped the office for the kitchen, where I enjoyed making refreshing cups of tea and serving our lovely members some delicious pastries. ☕

I also tried my paw at helping one of our members with their shopping. I was very keen to carry the basket... but it turned out to be a little too heavy for me. I think I'll stick to supervising next time! 😂

I had such a fantastic first visit and loved meeting everyone and learning about the incredible work that happens at Southcote Pantry every week.

I can't wait for my next adventure... I wonder where I'll be visiting next?

06/07/2026

We're so excited to introduce Hobnob, our new Pantries mascot. He's been patiently waiting for an opportunity to travel since his adoption and we're delighted he'll be joining us at Southcote Pantry tomorrow.

Finally we are so excited to officially introduce the Reading Pantries mascot! Joining Vincent as our pantries mascot is "Hobnob"! 🥳
​To be honest, this name made us all have a good chuckle when it was chosen by our volunteers! Our volunteers felt it was the perfect fit to represent the delicious food available in our pantries and the warm, welcoming spirit of our pantry cafes.
​Hobnob is all about those simple, precious moments—like members coming together to share a cup of tea and a biscuit. They represent the joy, connection, and hospitality that happen in our pantries every week.
​Standing alongside Vincent, Hobnob is here to remind us all that our doors are open and our community is growing. Please join us in giving Hobnob a very warm (and biscuit-friendly!) welcome!



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06/07/2026

Introducing our new mascot bears. Stay tuned for our new Pantries mascot!

24/06/2026

Reading Borough Council have published a list of Cool Spaces in Reading, which are free and where people can take a break from the heat, cool down and rest during the current period of extreme hot weather. Please see the link for details:

Cool spaces are free, indoor places in Reading where people can take a break from the heat, cool down and rest during the current period of hot weather. They are normally open to anyone who needs a…

22/06/2026

🌞 Hot Weather Advice for Pantry Members

With temperatures expected to reach 36°C, we want to help everyone stay safe during the heat.

The Pantry will be open as usual tomorrow, Tuesday 23 June, but please do not arrive early to queue outside. The doors will not open before the usual times:
• 2:30pm for CommuniCare and ticket distribution
• 3:00pm for Pantry members

If you are coming to the Pantry, please:
💧 Bring a bottle of water
🧢 Wear a hat or other sun protection
☀️ Avoid standing in the heat for long periods

Please note that only cold drinks will be served in the café.

After you have completed your shopping, we encourage you to return home as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary exposure to the heat.

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe during this period of very hot weather. We look forward to seeing you and appreciate your cooperation.