Story of  change - The Greenacre community pantry 

“For those with enough money it is hard to imagine that discounted bags of groceries could be life changing, but for those struggling it means a lot. It means a child can eat a healthy meal; an elderly person has fruit to eat. These things have such a big impact on people’s physical welfare.”

For 7 years the Greenacre Community Pantry has provided low-cost groceries to those struggling with food insecurity. However, what has also been remarkable has been the growth in the community around the pantry. 

Every fortnight, an hour before the pantry van arrives, Stephanie, the Greenacre Community Chaplain, along with members of Good Shepherd Anglican run a morning tea for shoppers. In that hour most of the 80 or so shoppers who regularly attend the pantry will come, meet new people and grow long-term friendships. 

Pantry friendships are made between people across different cultural backgrounds. Greenacre is home to people from a range of middle eastern backgrounds and religious faiths including Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox peoples. Many of the shoppers who find themselves at the pantry are themselves retirees or mothers, particularly single mothers, in need of financial assistance. For many long-term attendees, though, the community at the pantry is almost as important as the food itself. 

For Good Shepherd Anglican, the community pantry has become an integral part of the church congregation. The pantry provides an opportunity for congregants to branch out into the community and develop connections. For example, when one of the shoppers attended with her friend who was escaping domestic violence, church members rallied to assist her to move to a new house and set her life back up. Through the pantry, church members have developed real friendships with vulnerable people from the community.

A regular bible studies and church community lunches also provide opportunities for shoppers to be invited back into the church community if they wish. During Anglicare’s Toys n Tucker drive, shoppers were invited to the church’s Arabic and English Christmas celebration. Most of the attendees were pantry shoppers. 

- Stephanie (Anglicare Community Chaplain)