Lismore’s Food Pantry was established a year ago today, with the aim of making life easier for people feeling the financial pinch by selling them donated food at a fraction of the cost of normal groceries.
Pastor Colin Scott of Lismore Regional Mission, which operates it, said the Pantry now has more than 500 members and an average of 65–70 people shop there each week.
‘Our numbers continue to go up as more people struggle to make ends meet in the financial climate – we get everyone from pensioners to single parents,’ Pastor Scott said.
‘You can buy groceries at about a third of the cost of supermarkets – people can walk away with three or four bags of shopping for around $22 and that includes everything from fruit and vegetables to hygiene products.’
The Pantry is open every Thursday and most of the stock is obtained from corporate donors but Pastor Scott said he is now asking local producers to donate as well.
‘The Pantry is not for profit and entirely run by volunteers. Our first birthday is the perfect time to say thank you for all their hard work.’
The Pantry was established with small grants from UnitingCare Ageing and Lismore City Council, which also donated a computer.
Mayor Jenny Dowell said the unique concept and the response showed a definite need in the community for this kind of service to take the pressure off already stretched budgets.
‘The cost of food is astronomical these days and for some people at the end of the week there’s just not enough to feed yourself and your kids,’ said Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell.
‘The Food Pantry is putting food on the table at an affordable price for vulnerable people when there’s not enough money to last.’
Pastor Scott stressed that the Food Pantry was open to anyone who has a pension or healthcare card and membership is free. He said some people had the wrong impression that the Food Pantry was for homeless people, but it was for any ordinary person or family who needs to save dollars.
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