Food pantry needs volunteers

The People’s Pantry at Woy Woy offers a lifeline to low-income households by providing low-cost and sometimes free food (limits apply) every Monday and Wednesday.

The pantry supplies fresh, dry and frozen food items, made possible through generous donations, food rescue pick-ups from local supermarkets, markets and bakeries, and purchased food.

“It’s a win-win as it helps reduce food waste by rescuing edible food that would otherwise end up in landfill,” Food Rescue Project Officer Fiona MacPhail said.

Run by registered charity Community SOS, the pantry is in desperate need of volunteers to work in the pantry and to collect food.

CEO of Community Support and Outreach Services Vivian Muraahi said the pantry helped many individuals and families during the cost-of-living crisis by providing food security where they might otherwise have had none.

“Our client list has been steadily growing as people find it harder to budget,” she said.

“To meet this need we have expanded the pantry and plan to open an additional day each week, starting Thursday, July 3.”

“We rely on our volunteers; they are integral to the food pantry’s operation.”

Community SOS provides other services such as financial counselling, energy bill help, NILS (No Interest Loan Scheme), personal counselling and a referral system.

All services are offered at Narara and Woy Woy locations.

Community SOS can be contacted on 02 4329 4477 Monday to Friday 9am to 3.30pm.

The People’s Pantry, located in the Yaringaa Building in John Hoare Cl, Woy Woy, is open to the community from 11.30am-2.30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, except on public holidays, and will also open on Thursdays from July 3.