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A Community Grocery offering a lifeline to families struggling with the cost of living will open in Swansea next week.St Thomas’ Church in Eastside is partnering with the award-winning national charity Message Trust to open its first Community Grocery in the city.The Community Grocery is a bridge between a foodbank and a supermarket, allowing members to shop for the whole family at a fraction of the cost of a supermarket.All members of the community can join the scheme for an annual membership of £5 per year. This will give members access to food shops multiple times per week. Members will be able to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, bakery items, freezer and chilled items, tinned foods and toiletries for as little as £5 per shop, helping them save on their shopping budget.The mission of St Thomas’ Church has always been to ‘love and serve the city in Jesus’ name’. Over the past 10 years, the church has gone from being open one day a week with a declining attendance to a church with a city-wide reputation for its determination to transform the lives of others.The church currently has a social outreach ministry that reaches far beyond Eastside with its foodbank, Baby Basics and warm hub and its latest initiative – ‘The Community Grocery’ – will be located in Port Tennant at St Stephen’s Church.With over 20 community groceries already open across the UK, they have become a lifeline to members who are struggling with the rise in food and fuel costs.However, the Community Grocery is not only about food, members are given access to free courses such as learning how to cook, debt and money advice and exploring Christianity courses and much more.Rev'd Steven Bunting MBE said: “Over the past eight years our volunteers and staff team have worked tirelessly to support those suffering from food insecurity across Swansea. We are so excited for this new partnership with the Message Trust that allows people all over Swansea to access good quality food at an affordable price. Access to food is not a privilege, it is an essential part of human life and dignity, and we look forward to this new chapter in serving the City of Swansea.” Bishop John said: “It is a privilege for St Thomas’ Church and the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon to partner with the Message Trust. As a Church we take seriously the call of Jesus to care for those in need and so we are delighted to be part of the transformation of people's lives, keeping families fed and in showing God’s care to them.”Community Grocery Director, Sam Hawthorne, said: “We know how tough the cost-of-living crisis is making life for many and how more people than ever are struggling to put food on the table, so we’re on a mission to play our part in resolving this. Acting as a bridge between foodbanks and supermarkets, Swansea Community Grocery will give members access to the affordable food they desperately need to keep their family fed, as well as free wrap-around support too. We’re delighted to be able to partner with St Thomas’ Swansea to help meet the increasing need across the community.”The Community Grocery will be launched on Monday, 8th July and doors open to the public on Tuesday, 9th July. The store will be open five days a week, Monday to Friday, at St Stephen’s Church in Port Tennant.The Community Grocery has only been made possible by the generous support of the Austin Bailey Foundation, The National Lottery Awards for All Wales and the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon.