What started out as a chat among friends in a Pambula cafe a few years ago has now become a reality.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Following on from the success of the Sapphire Community Pantry in Bega, Eden Community Pantry is ready to open its doors after years of planning.
The ethos behind the community pantry is simple - If people are nourished the community is nourished.
On Monday April 8, community members gathered at St George's Uniting Church hall to hear all about the Garden of Eden's community pantry, a week ahead of its unveiling.
A community pantry is a not-for-profit shop selling a limited range of groceries and other staples at a significantly lower cost than big supermarkets. The food and items for the pantry are purchased through Foodbank, Australia's largest hunger relief organisation, and sold on a cost-recovery only basis.
The first delivery of goods arrived last week from Foodbank and already the shelves are brimming with a variety of non-perishable products including pasta, soups, beans and even shampoo.
Key organiser Pam Skelton said everybody is welcome to shop at the pantry. One of the main ideas is for community connection while helping people to balance their budget to feed themselves and their families.
"A nourished community is a connected community. We encourage people from all walks of life to come along do a shop, have a chat and meet others. The best way to build a strong community is for people to get to know each other."
Most of the food has been purchased from Foodbank, and sourced from local supermarkets and other local businesses. Ms Skelton said in the future they hoped local growers will also feel inspired to donate fruits and vegetables.
Unlike some charity style schemes where vulnerable people receive staple items in a bundle package, the pantry will offer people to shop and choose the items they would like.
"A problem with bundling is at times people don't like or want some items included in the bundle. We want to be respectful of the needs of our customers by offering them choice as well as normalising the shopping experience," Ms Skelton said.
President of the Sapphire Community Pantry in Bega Christine Welsh said the impact the Bega pantry has had on Bega residents has been "enormous." "It has relieved stress and has enabled people to feed their families and meet other living costs such as paying bills."
The Eden Community Pantry will open its doors to the public for the first time from 10am until 1pm on Thursday, April 18.
"Everybody is welcome," Ms Skelton said.
The specially built pantry is located at St George's Uniting Church hall on Chandos Street.
The improvements to the hall to house the community pantry were made possible by grants from NSW Family and Community Services Social Housing Community Improvement Fund, Bega Valley Shire Access Improvement grant.
Donations from other community groups such as Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast and lots of volunteer work by church members and other community-minded people.