The Older Women’s Network (OWN) Deepwater has added the Woy Woy Community Food Pantry to its list of recipients for donations and recently handed over $500 to help restock.
The food pantry has been operating for more than seven years out of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 83 Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy.
It opens between 11.30am and 1.30pm every second Friday, co-ordinated by local businessman David Bews who is an oyster farmer on the Brisbane Water.
For $15, people can collect a box of non-perishables, cereal, fruit, vegetables, bread rolls and frozen goods valued at $150.
On the Fridays in between the major food pantry days, a “second bite” food pantry offers second bite vegetables, bread, bread rolls and occasionally cakes and pastries for $5.
The church has also started a Hope and Meals Dinner at 6pm every Friday evening to create a space where people can come for a nutritious meal and conversation led by Jeffrey Law.
On July 18, OWN Deepwater Secretary Jennifer Brown called into the pantry and presented the $500 cheque to co-ordinator David Bews.
Bews said there had been a big surge in demand in the area, attributable to increasing rents, mortgages and cost of living.