‘Take what you need, share what you can’

Nowadays this op shop maxim extends beyond clothing and household objects to food for people ‘doing it tough.’

The newly opened Ferntree Gully Village Community Pantry, a collaborative effort between Foothills Community Care (FCC) and Hills Church Opportunity Shop, is dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming space where individuals can access free food and personal items.

The goal is to ease the burden of living costs while promoting hospitality, compassion, and a nonjudgmental atmosphere within the community. They will do this by providing nutritious and diverse food options to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

Located at the laneway behind Hills Church Op Shop, 18 Alpine St, Ferntree Gully, the pantry will initially be open during Op Shop hours. Here, individuals can find fresh and non-perishable food, as well as basic toiletries and women’s hygiene products.

Ongoing management and stocking will be a joint effort between FCC and the Hills Church shop. They state that: ‘We encourage local businesses and individuals to contribute by donating their excess items to the pantry, thereby promoting community engagement and ownership. We are committed to reducing waste, sharing resources, creating opportunities for giving and receiving within our local community while challenging the status quo.

‘Establishing our community pantry, alongside other great community food relief initiatives, is a vital step towards addressing hunger and food insecurity within our community. By implementing this project, we can provide immediate relief to those in need while promoting sustainable solutions and fostering community engagement. Together, we can create a more resilient and nourished society.’

The Ferntree Gully Community Safety Outreach Project is a Knox Empowering Communities project funded by the Victorian Government’s Empowering Communities Initiative as part of the Building Safer Communities Program.