A STAR of MasterChef helped launch a new community pantry scheme in Newquay on Wednesday, which aims help people facing food poverty.

Frankie Dunn, a semi-finalist in this year’s series, showed people how to rustle up fresh healthy meals using simple ingredients for the new Newquay Food Bank initiative.

Newquay Community Stores at the Newquay Day Centre in Crantock Street offers a low-cost community pantry supermarket designed to help residents move past emergency food assistance toward financial independence.

The Stores will support people who have used the charity’s free emergency foodbank to access an affordable and “dignified shopping experience” offering choice, stability, and a stepping stone towards financial independence.

Individuals and couples will be able to exchange £7 for £30 worth of food and families £10 for the equivalent of £30 worth of food.

The Stores will also provide a welcoming space for connection and access to practical support such as budgeting and wellbeing guidance.

Frankie created food for shoppers from the supplies at The Stores. She made two types of enchiladas and an apple crumble.

Frankie said: “I was interested to get involved as everybody has a right to good, healthy food.

“It is not something that is out of reach for anyone.

“The Newquay Community Stores Is set to do an amazing job getting people away from emergency food provision into a routine where they plan ahead so they have good quality healthy food every day.

“I inherited my mum’s cooking skill and intuition, and my dad’s palate, resulting in an ability to grab a few random ingredients and somehow turn them into a feast.

“The message I want to get across is that we can get really low-price food such as fresh vegetables and fresh fruit and create affordable meals, which are easy to make.”

Newquay Foodbank receives donations for the scheme from FareShare, which redistributes surplus food from the food industry to thousands of frontline charities across the UK, as well as supermarkets and warehouses.

The charity has also launched a crowdfunder to help keep the larder topped up.

Felicity Pearce, the project manager for Newquay Community Stores, said: “Newquay Community Stores is an affordable way to buy your shopping every week.

“We are open at the moment to existing users of the Newquay Foodbank as well as those in temporary accommodation.

“We are aiming to give people a stepping stone to financial stability and independence.

“People pay a small amount of money as a member and receive three to four times the initial donation.

“Our vision is a Newquay where fewer people rely on foodbanks long-term, and more people feel supported, confident, and in control of their food choices.”