Cornish Pasty makers from across the county are coming together to tackle food poverty in the county, as part of Cornish Pasty Week (27th February – 5th March), and have already pledged over £14,000 for Devon & Cornwall Food Action.
The Cornish Pasty Community Fund is the new initiative from the Cornish Pasty Association. Anyone making or selling genuine Cornish pasties is invited to participate by agreeing to donate either a specific amount of money from every Cornish pasty sold during Cornish Pasty Week, or a fixed lump sum of their choice. The suggested donation is 1p per Cornish pasty sold. And every penny raised will go towards the amazing work of Devon & Cornwall Food Action.
Devon & Cornwall Food Action receives 10 – 15 tons of donated products a week, which includes ambient, fresh, frozen and household products. The charity’s core objective is to provide affordable food for those experiencing food poverty in Cornwall & Devon.
The money raised by this initiative will go towards expanding the charities reach in Cornwall. At present DCFA deliver to one area a week, covering St. Ives, Hayle, Falmouth, Camborne and Redruth.
However in Devon, DCFA currently provide the following:
- 30 deliveries 5 days a week of direct food support.
- 30 deliveries a week for referrals from Plymouth Community Homes and Devon and Cornwall Police.
- 90 families supported each week through Onward House Community Centre.
- 30 families a week supported through Southway Community Centre.
- 20 families a week supported through local churches.
- 100 boxes a week supporting DCFA’s wonderful volunteers.
- 20 boxes a week to military veterans and veteran support organisations.
CPA Chairman Jason Jobling said: “For generations the Cornish pasty has been an inherent part of our culture and heritage in this part of the world and, with many people facing difficult challenges right now, this feels like an important moment to show how much the Cornish pasty community can do to support those in need.”
Devon and Cornwall Food Action is not a food bank; it is a registered charity that redistributes surplus food. As such it already works with some of the county’s pasty producers who donate their excess or mis-shaped products. It relies on a fantastic band of volunteers who do all the work involved, but inevitably there is also a need for cash to help expand the reach of the charity here in Cornwall to match that of our neighbouring county.
Alan Dunne, Chairman of Devon and Cornwall Food Action added, “It is great to work with the Cornish Pasty Association during Cornish Pasty Week and we are enormously grateful for the funds already pledged. With this money we will be able to reach even more families facing food poverty in Cornwall.”
If you make or sell genuine Cornish pasties and would like to be part of this initiative, all you need to do is contact the Cornish Pasty Association, who will send more details. And a huge thank you to the following businesses who have already pledged: Phat Pasty, West Cornwall Pasty Co, Warrens, Ginsters, The Cornwall Bakery, Cornish Premier Pasties, Prima Bakeries, Rowes, South Coast Baker, Berrymans and Proper Cornish.
