Pantry Preserve

A scalable, dignified food access system strengthening resilience across Waltham Forest.

ROLE
Service Designer

SKILLS
Spatial Mapping, Systems Thinking, Stakeholder Research, Service Concepting

TIMELINE
Jan 2025

TEAM
Yixuan Lyu, Xinwei Ye, Sonika Yenamandra

Reimagining equitable and dignified food access for local resilience.

The Pantry Preserve redefines how the Waltham Forest community accesses nourishment through a network of shared food lockers. This initiative aims to provide dignified, 24/7 access to nutritious ingredients, turning food aid into a civic service built on equity and care.

This project was developed during the RCA Grand Challenge 2025 & selected as one of the top 18 teams.

Background & Context

Food Insecurity in London and Waltham Forest

Food insecurity is a growing challenge across the UK, with one in five households struggling to access quality, affordable food. Waltham Forest is particularly affected, with many individuals being unable to eat enough proper meals:

RESEARCH

Investigating the Borough

To understand why Waltham Forest experiences such high levels of food insecurity, we combined spatial mapping, ethnographic observation, and expert consultations:‍


Spatial Mapping

We mapped council housing, supermarkets, and food banks across the borough to understand residents’ proximity to food resources. This highlighted “food desert” areas, particularly in Chingford, where access to affordable, nutritious food is limited.


Ethnographic Observation

Field visits to areas like Chingford and Walthamstow revealed that many residents live far from supermarkets and food support services. While car ownership enables some to overcome these distances, those without cars or with mobility limitations encounter substantial barriers.


Expert Consultations

Conversations with The Hornbeam Centre revealed systemic issues within Waltham Forest’s food support network. Staff described operational challenges including overcrowding, limited staffing, and logistical constraints.

They also noted that referral-based systems and the stigma surrounding food aid can be a big barrier to seeking resources.

KEY CHALLENGES

01. Physical Barriers

Residents living in "food deserts" face difficulties reaching essential food sources. The combination of distance and limited transport options makes accessing food support inconsistent and unreliable for many individuals.

02. Constraints in Food Aid Systems

Existing food banks and community resources are often overcrowded, understaffed, and operate on limited schedules, reducing reliability and accessibility for residents.

03. Stigma and Referral-Based Systems

Negative perceptions surrounding food poverty, combined with referral-based access systems, discourage some individuals from seeking help.

our guiding questions:

How might we bring existing food resources directly to those in need?

How can we ensure that residents of Waltham Forest can access nutritious food resources in an accessible way that promotes dignity and community engagement?

Our Solution Strategy

The pantry preserve

Value Proposition

The Pantry Preserve provides Waltham Forest residents with dignified access to nutritious food. By redistributing surplus goods through a decentralized locker network, the service ensures equitable access for all while easing the strain on overstretched food banks and reframing food support as a shared, community-driven resource.

HOW IT OPERATES


Accessible by Design

As self-serve lockers, The Pantry Preserve operates without the need for on-site staff or volunteers.

The hands-off model allows for 24/7 access across multiple neighbourhoods.

This ensures inclusivity for residents with limited mobility, irregular schedules, or those who prefer discretion when seeking support.


Powered by Local Partnerships

Lockers are stocked through collaborations with existing food banks and grocers, redistributing surplus goods already within the borough.

By decentralizing aid, the system alleviates pressure on overcrowded food banks and complements their efforts. This creates a more distributed, resilient food network.


Meal Kits for Home Cooking

Alongside individual ingredients, curated meal kits provide pre-portioned supplies and recipes using shelf-stable items.

By teaching residents how to prepare balanced meals at home, these kits build practical cooking skills and help the community become more resilient in managing food nutrition independently.

We HOPE TO PARTNER WITH EXISTING MEAL KIT ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE KITS.


Addressing Food Deserts

Lockers are strategically located in underserved neighborhoods, positioned near community centers, libraries, transportation hubs, and other high-foot-traffic areas.

By bringing resources directly into familiar and accessible public spaces, the system ensures visibility and convenience.

SCALABILITY

Pilot Program

The project begins with a small-scale hub to test logistics, gather feedback, and refine operations before scaling upwards throughout the borough. Initial implementation can use pre-existing infrastructure, such as Amazon Lockers, to reduce setup costs.

challenging stigma

The Pantry Preserve moves beyond short-term hunger relief by reframing food support as a resource for the entire community.

Open to all residents regardless of income, the system shifts the perception of food aid from charity → community resource. This approach normalizes food support, reduces stigma, and ensures everyone can benefit from accessible, dignified nutrition.


Building Community Ownership & Resilience

The Pantry Preserve empowers residents to shape and sustain the systems that serve them. By fostering participation, collective responsibility, and co-creation, the project strengthens the borough’s social fabric and builds a resilient community that can better respond to future challenges.

01. Shaped by the People It Serves

Residents influence locker locations and food offerings, ensuring the system reflects local needs and cultural diversity, and fostering a sense of ownership over the resource.

02. Reducing Dependence on Centralized Aid

By distributing food more widely and reliably, The Pantry Preserve eases demand on overcrowded food banks, making the borough’s overall food system more adaptable and sustainable over time.

03. Strengthening Local Networks

The project brings residents, food providers, and community organizations together, creating stronger local networks that help the community respond to future challenges.