UPDATE Winter 2020: The bus stop shop is closed due to vandalism and the fact that we now have a more permanent base at The Octagon Community Hub where we host the Farmhill and Paganhill community shop.
The story of our bus stop shop
The bus stop shop was initially set up to address food shortages in Farmhill and Paganhill during the Covid-19 crisis, and was a great success, especially during the summer and early Autumn of 2020.
People donated food, period and incontinence essentials, nappies, books, toys and games, and supplies of food from the Stroud District Foodbank and unsold fresh fruit and veg from local supermarkets. The Bus Stop Shop is opposite the Paganhill Arch in Farmhill Lane.
Big thanks to all those who supported the shop, those who cleaned it thoroughly before we started and have come and tidied up and kept space for regular bus users and those who continued to keep it neat and tidy.
Thank you to:
Generous members of our community and our Garden Group for growing fruit and veg.
Fareshare Go – which supported the Maypole Hall cafe with food since it started in 2017. The cafe itself is currently closed due to Covid.
The Long Table, based in Brimscombe – who have worked hard during Covid19 providing free cooked meals to those experiencing food poverty and now donate surplus food to our bus stop shop.
Food Bank – who have had a ‘bank’ in Paganhill for many years and support our community.
Thank you to The Veterans Group for offering to paint the Bus Stop shop and to Town and District Councillor Haydn Sutton for generously supplying and fitting the shelving and notice board.
Lastly, big thank you to Stroud District Council for responding to our using the Bus Stop as a shop with enthusiasm.
