We Are Community

We Are Community – Community Pantry

We Are Community – Community Pantry

We Are Community presently operates a community pantry three days a week, catering to an average of 220 individuals weekly, from single-person households to large families of ten. Our pantry is sustained by food rescue collected from Woolworths, Coles, and Second Bite, supplemented with additional purchases within a budget of $250 per week. While this ...

GOAL

$11,000

Australia > NSW > Metro and Regional
22/01/2025 > 22/01/2025

Field of Interest

  • Community and economic development
  • Individual/family services and support

Target Population

  • People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability
  • General population
We Are Community We Are Community

We, at We Are Community, are deeply committed to addressing food insecurity not only within our immediate community but also in other regional locations. Our comprehensive range of services includes a variety of food provisions specifically designed for rough sleepers, disadvantaged individuals, and vulnerable populations.

In addition to food, we also provide essential hygiene products, toiletries, blankets, and clothing, all within a non-judgmental and safe environment where everyone is warmly welcomed. To further extend our reach, we operate a mobile service that ensures the timely delivery of hot meals and other essentials to those most in need

Project Summary

We Are Community presently operates a community pantry three days a week, catering to an average of 220 individuals weekly, from single-person households to large families of ten. Our pantry is sustained by food rescue collected from Woolworths, Coles, and Second Bite, supplemented with additional purchases within a budget of $250 per week. While this initiative offers a degree of food security to our community, we are never able to guarantee that what is received will provide for all participants.

Our proposed project aims to enhance our current pantry provisions to ensure comprehensive meal solutions. In addition to creating pantry packs comprising essential staples accompanied by recipe cards featuring four meal options, we aim to expand to include breakfast and lunch items. This expansion is crucial to ensure that children in our community do not go hungry at school.

We also aim to implement a system that limits the items handed out based on family size rather than solely relying on what is available. This approach ensures fair distribution and maximizes the impact of our resources.

By expanding our pantry’s offerings to include breakfast and lunch items and implementing a fair distribution system, coupled with our focus on education, we endeavour to empower our community members to create wholesome, budget-conscious, and flavourful meals. Our holistic approach not only addresses immediate food needs but also promotes sustainable practices and life skills among our pantry participants.

Project Outcomes

The primary objective of our project is to expand our capacity to serve and support more individuals and families in need. By optimizing our stock management processes, we aim to ensure a steady supply of essential items, allowing us to maintain a three-month pantry stock and implement quarterly restocking strategies. This strategic approach not only enhances our operational efficiency but also empowers us to allocate our current budget of $250 per week towards procuring additional product to support specific dietary needs, catering to the nutritional needs of a larger number of people effectively.

Our ultimate goal is to provide assistance tailored to each family's requirements, addressing the inherent challenges posed by varying family sizes and dietary requirements. Through this initiative, we seek to eliminate the disparity in food distribution, ensuring that every family receives a sufficient and balanced supply of meals, irrespective of their size. This empathetic approach aligns with our core belief that no one should have to go hungry and food insecurity can be ended.

By extending our reach and refining our resource management practices, we envision a community where food insecurity is minimized, fostering resilience and well-being across our service areas and regional centres. This project represents a significant step forward in our mission to combat hunger and promote dignity and inclusivity for all individuals and families within our community.

Budget Breakdown

TOTAL BUDGET: $15,000
FUNDING
Funding source Amount
Product donation (confirmed) $4,000
Funding Gap (unconfirmed) $11,000
EXPENSES
Expense item Amount
Pantry Staples $10,000
Meat purchase $5,000

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Contact Us
Level 6, 126 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Australian Communities Foundation is a proudly inclusive organisation and an ally of LGBTQIA+ communities and the movement toward equality.