“An alarming increase in people living out of their cars” was the catalyst for a new community pantry that has opened at the Y Lakeside Leisure Centre in Tuggeranong this week, Homelessness Week (1-7 August).
The pantry’s aim is to help ensure ACT residents experiencing food insecurity don’t go hungry.
Located on site at the Lakeside Leisure Centre in Greenway, the community pantry is restocked three times a week from the Coles and SecondBite Community Food Program.
It supports locals who have been impacted by the pandemic or are facing financial barriers to buying food.
In June, the Lakeside Leisure Centre was connected to Coles Tuggeranong to collect unsold food such as bread, fruit, vegetables and tinned food for its free community pantry service.
The new pantry comes as SecondBite’s research reveals three out of four community food charities are experiencing higher demand from vulnerable Australians compared to this time last year, particularly from single parent families and people affected by homelessness and unemployment.
Research also shows almost 80% of charity and community partners surveyed saw an increase in demand for their food relief programs compared to last year.
Lakeside Leisure Centre staff saw this increased demand play out locally in Greenway.
“Since reopening doors after lockdown in September last year, we noticed an alarming increase in people living out of their cars and paying for showers on site,” said centre manager, Kristen James.
“We have a very strong community and consistent patron base at Lakeside, and our staff and regular members wanted to do something to help out.”
The Centre first established a street library two years ago for patrons to exchange books. Over the past year, the concept was expanded to include food and other essential supplies.
“The food was going really quickly so we installed a veggie patch out the back to start growing fresh produce,” Ms James said.
The pantry’s new partnership with Coles and SecondBite has reduced the reliance on community donations and increased the volume of food available for the community.
“At the Y, we believe in building healthier, happier and better-connected communities and as a not-for-profit, we’re always looking for ways to give back in a meaningful way,” Ms James said.
She invited anyone in need to visit the Centre to see what’s available and said all Y staff “are committed to protecting the privacy and dignity of anyone who many benefit from the pantry”.
Lakeside Leisure Centre is managed by the Y NSW on behalf of the ACT Government.
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