Cornish pasty makers from across the county are coming together to tackle food poverty in the county and have already pledged more than £14,000 for Devon and 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 work of Devon and Cornwall Food Action.

The charity receives 10 to 15 tons of donated products a week, which includes ambient, fresh, frozen and household products. 

The core objective is to provide affordable food for those experiencing food poverty in Cornwall and Devon. 

The money raised by this initiative will go towards expanding the charity’s reach in Cornwall. 

At present DCFA delivers to one area a week, covering St. Ives, Hayle, Falmouth, Camborne and Redruth. 

However in Devon, DCFA currently provides 30 deliveries five days a week of direct food support and 30 deliveries a week for referrals from Plymouth Community Homes and Devon and Cornwall Police.

Ninety families are supported each week through Onward House Community Centre, and 30 families a week are supported through Southway Community Centre. Another 20 families a week are supported through local churches. 

A hundred boxes a week support DCFA’s volunteers and 20 boxes a week go 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 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 in Cornwall.

Alan Dunne, Chairman of Devon and Cornwall Food Action, said: “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.”

Find out more: 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 at cornishpastyassociation.co.uk

The following businesses 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.