In March, Anglicare hosted its Annual Community Pantry Conference, bringing together church parishes and community members for two special events held in Illawarra and Sydney. The Illawarra Community Pantry Conference took place on Saturday, 15 March, at St Michael's Anglican Cathedral in Wollongong, while the Sydney Community Pantry Conference was held on Saturday, 29 March, at MBM Rooty Hill Anglican Church. We had a record number of registrations for the Rooty Hill event - just shy of 100 attendees!
Both events were a wonderful opportunity for the attendees involved to connect, learn, and be inspired. These gatherings focused on exploring how to make a more meaningful impact through Anglicare's Community Pantry ministry, offering valuable insights for both experienced volunteers and those just beginning their journey in community service. The conference theme of 'Open Hearts, Open Minds – Embrace Community' was expressed through workshops led by members of the Food and Financial Assistance (FFA) and Family and Life Skills Education (FLSE) teams.
The conferences featured stalls that provided attendees with a deeper understanding of Anglicare's various programs. These included the Anglicare Food Rescue Project, Cross Cultural Services, Food and Financial Assistance, and Church Partnerships programs. The stalls were a great resource for attendees who wanted to know more about how Anglicare is working to support those in need across the community. The event also included a series of workshops aimed at equipping participants with practical tools for making a meaningful impact.
The workshops covered a variety of topics, including:
⦁ Financial Therapy.
⦁ Listening and Communicating Well.
⦁ Being Christ-like in Challenging Situations.
One of the workshops was on Financial Therapy, led by Anne Rodda and Edna Reyes from Anglicare's Food and Financial Assistance team. This session focused on practical approaches for supporting people experiencing financial stress.
Another impactful workshop was Listening and Communicating Well, led by Jessica Bingham and Tilda Aquilina, both Family Life Skills Educators at Anglicare. This session focused on the importance of asking meaningful questions, fostering understanding, and creating safe spaces for open dialogue.
In the Being Christ-like in Challenging Situations workshop, Jessica and Tilda explored how to respond with grace and love in difficult circumstances, such as racism, anger, and selfishness. This session was designed to help attendees navigate challenging interactions with empathy, compassion, and Christ-like understanding.
The Annual Community Pantry Conferences provided a space for attendees to learn how they can make a meaningful difference in their communities. As we continue to expand the reach of the Community Pantry ministry, we are grateful to all those who attended and contributed to the success of these conferences.
By coming together to share knowledge and ideas, we can continue to grow and strengthen our outreach programs, ensuring that Anglicare remains a pillar of support for those in need across the community. We look forward to continuing to serve alongside our incredible volunteers and community partners, working to make a lasting impact in the lives of those who need it most.
We are looking forward to a big milestone in 2026: Celebrating 10 years of Anglicare's Community Pantry program! Watch this space!
If you are interested in learning more about Anglicare's Community Pantry, click on the button below: