MARRICKVILLE: Located at the Addi Road Community Centre (ARCC), 142 Addison Road, the Food Pantry is a low-cost grocer with green credentials. The pantry rescues fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and other quality food and household items from being thrown into landfill. All goods are offered to the community at affordable prices.
In late March, in response to the Covid-19 crisis, the ARCC extended its Food Pantry operations with a new Emergency Food Preparedness and Response Centre.
The Gumbramorra Hall has been repurposed as a production and distribution hub where staff and volunteers prepare emergency hampers to ensure that charities and NGOs, including the Exodus Foundation and Youth Off the Streets, have access to essential food and supplies. “It’s a special needs scenario,” writes Mark Mordue on the Addi Road website. “Hampers will be given to NGOs and charity groups to deliver to their most vulnerable and isolated community members, and to people who are unable to visit and shop at the Food Pantry.”
The service is the only one of its kind currently operating in the inner city.
A related post reports a visit by local MP and federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese and footballer and SBS commentator Craig Foster, who has been “putting together emergency hampers with a team of sporting volunteers roused into action through his #PlayForLife campaign”. Mr Albanese expressed concern for the lack of long-term planning in response to the present crisis, and the need for concrete and structured responses that give people a sense of order and confidence.
Launched in 2016, the Food Pantry has expanded from humble beginnings, initially operating out of an old shipping container. It now occupies half of Hut 1, adjacent to the main office at the ARCC.
According to the ABC’s War on Waste, presented by Craig Reucassel, more than 4 million tonnes of food is wasted in Australia each year – enough to feed 60 million people – at a cost to the economy of $20 billion.
Food insecurity is a major concern and can impact negatively upon outcomes for children in the short and long term – including children’s academic ability and health issues including obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
The Food Pantry joins similar not-for-profits including Foodbank Australia, Fareshare, SecondBite and Oz Harvest in offering an alternative to waste and food insecurity.
Donations of fruit and vegetables, unopened packaged foods, household items such as laundry detergent, cleaning products, personal products (shampoo, soap, sanitary goods) and other miscellaneous household goods are all accepted, along with products close to “best before” or “use by” dates, excess and slow-moving stock or deleted lines, products incorrectly labelled, products with damaged packaging, and sample and bulk produce.
The Food Pantry accepts donations from primary producers, manufacturers, warehouses and distribution centres, wholesalers, agents and importers, food service retailers, as well as individuals and local community groups.
Opening hours: Tue 2-5pm; Wed 10am-2pm; Thu 2-7pm; Fri 12-3pm. To volunteer, discuss or arrange collection, email foodpantry@addiroad.org.au or phone 9569 7633.
