Location: at the top of the Market Brae steps (behind the bottle greenhouse)

Who can use it: people from all over Inverness are welcome to use the cupboard!

Opening hours: 8am to 8pm every day

How it works

It’s for anyone to come and help themselves to food they can use. There are no referrals, the cupboard is not staffed, it is just open every day for folk to come to and see what might be available and take what they need. We work in partnership with SHIMCA, Tesco, Co-op, Asda and other community groups around Inverness who have surplus food or toiletries. Supermarkets and shops provide us with fresh produce that they can no longer sell and we have a great group of volunteers who help collect the donations and stock the cupboard. At other times we get donations of longer life foods such as tinned goods, cereal, pasta, baking ingredients and toiletries.

Our volunteers

We have a group of around 30 volunteers who help out with different jobs at the cupboard, including some secondary school students who volunteer as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award. The cupboard is checked every day to make sure it’s clean and the fridge is working well. We have a weekly rota to let us know our slot for picking up the donations. We work in pairs so it’s been a great way to meet other friendly folk from around Inverness.

What you can do

Please come and use the cupboard to help reduce food waste. Share the community love by taking only what you can use and leaving some for others. Follow us on Facebook and tell your family and friends about the cupboard. We are a friendly bunch who are always on the lookout for more volunteers, so if you’d be interested in getting involved please get in touch.

Supporters

The cupboard, as well as considerable backroom storage space, is provided by SHIMCA who have been an amazing partner. There was funding to set up the cupboard during lockdown from Highland Council and the Scottish Government. In 2022 we had an award from the National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All scheme to employ a part time coordinator and cover volunteer expenses for the year.