Carlton’s new community pantry encourages “locals to help one another out” 

The Church of All Nations (CAN) Community Support program has its hearts set on inspiring a community of generosity with its latest community project “Little Free Pantry”. 

Located on Palmerston St, the recently installed pantry was introduced to help provide additional support to locals under the premise of “Give what you can. Take what you need”. 

The Church of All Nations currently has an Emergency Relief Program whereby it provides food parcels to low-income locals through an appointment-based program. 

CAN Community Support executive officer Virginia Moebus-Nelson said the goal of the pantry was to provide “additional support to alleviate some of the program’s limitations”. 

“[The Emergency Relief Program] has been highly sought after for local families and households who are struggling to put food on the table. However, this program has some natural limitations to its availability due to opening hours and high demand for appointments,” Ms Moebus-Nelson told Inner City News.

“This pantry is open and available to people 24/7, and is designed to be a grassroots community project where locals help one another out.”

Since opening the Little Free Pantry, the team behind the initiative has already found that demand is outweighing supply, and is calling on its neighbourhood to get on board. 

“So far, the Palmerston St Little Free Pantry has been well utilised by people needing an emergency stop gap of food or groceries, with it being quickly emptied once donations are made,” Ms Moebus-Nelson said. 

“It would be great to see the neighbourhood get on board with donating groceries to the pantry; just add some extra groceries to your Woolies shop and swing past the church where the pantry is located and pop your items in for someone doing it tough to be able to take as needed.”

Recommended items for the pantry include unopened, hygienic, fully-sealed packaged items, non-perishable and non-refrigerated items, staples such as pasta, noodles, sauces, tinned food, cereal, UHT milk, dry biscuits, spreads, toiletries, and shareable items, such as multi-pack noodles and muesli bars.

“We love the community around Carlton, and we invite you to partner with us in this project to support one another, particularly those doing it tough,” Ms Moebus-Nelson said.  

“We are sure that this Little Free Pantry will be loved and respected by the community as a space of generosity, respect and dignity. Get on board this heartfelt community project.”

The Little Free Pantry can be found out the front of the Church of All Nations at 180 Palmerston St, Carlton. 

For anyone interested in supporting the community project, visit Palmerston Street Little Free Pantry on Facebook. •