This week, Mindful Margaret River asks the Margaret River Community Pantry about its role and its impact here in Margaret River.

Can you share the story behind the establishment of the Margaret River Community Pantry and its primary mission?

While many people now know of the Community Pantry at 41 Clarke road, it took many years to see that vision realised. In 2019, Margaret River local, Sally Hayes, put out the word for anyone interested in finding ways to support our most vulnerable community members through the provision of a ‘pantry’ style food distribution system, where food could be stored and then distributed to people in need.

The idea was to divert local supermarket rescue food from landfill to people in our community, thus reducing food waste, benefitting the environment, and helping to make food more affordable.

A small group of interested volunteers met in 2019 with a shared vision and focus, and despite numerous setbacks, challenges, and changes to group members, the Margaret River Community Pantry was realised.

We have a dual mission: to reduce food waste by rescuing excess food from local businesses and farmers and then redistribute it to our broader community to ensure residents can live their lives free from food stress and food insecurity.

What specific services and programs does the Pantry offer to the community?

 We provide food relief for people and families in the community who may require immediate or ongoing support.

• We do this by collecting and preparing healthy fruit & vegetables and dry goods that have been rescued or donated from local residents, businesses and farmers.
• We then make this available at our Community Pantry, which offers a safe, non-judgemental space every Friday from 10:30 am – 12:00 for community members to come and collect fruit, vegetables and dry good essentials.
• We also welcome food waste warriors at the Pantry, who are keen to rescue food and dry goods that would have otherwise gone to landfill.

Did you know that food waste accounts for around 3% of Australia’s annual greenhouse emissions and that Australia uses around 2,600 gigalitres of water to grow food that becomes waste.

Did you know that 93% of respondents to the WA Cost of Living Survey released by the Financial Counsellors Association in September 2024 said that food costs had increased in the past year, one third of those respondents said that they were worried about meeting the cost of food and 51% said that they had to cut back on their food spending. Nearly 40% of respondents are under financial distress (source: www.dcceew.gov.au).

How has the Pantry evolved since its inception, and what milestones have you achieved?

 Since starting in 2022, we have built a wonderful community of volunteers passionate about food waste and helping those in need. Over 80 people have volunteered their time since our inception, and we are now rescuing and distributing an average of three tonnes of food a month. The number of businesses and shops that support the Pantry has also grown, and we no longer need to supplement our supply with additional purchases of food staples, meaning we can invest in basic facilities such as fridges and freezers that enable us to receive and distribute more items.

Can you describe the community’s response and involvement with the Pantry’s initiatives?

• We see Community Pantry patrons attend every Friday to source affordable fruit and vegetables, and help reduce food waste.
• We welcome and appreciate our local farmers and avid gardeners who actively reach out to the Pantry when they have excess fresh farm or homegrown produce to donate.
• Our weekly donors include Settlers Tavern (donates 60kg of dry goods every week), Brumbies, Woolworths, Coles and the Margaret River Community Garden. We would also like to acknowledge the significant contribution from the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, who provide financial support and the site for the Pantry to operate.
• We also have ongoing relationships with the local schools and other community groups, such as the MR Community Garden, which is co-located on our site and often donates greens for our patrons.
• We contribute to building social capital by inspiring a team of volunteers from the community, including from local schools where students learn about what we do and have an opportunity to enhance their team-building skills.
• The volunteers and patrons of the Pantry have also formed a tight and inclusive community, helping people to stay connected, meet like-minded volunteers and support good mental health with social connection and by being involved in something that helps others.

What challenges does the Pantry face in addressing food insecurity, and how do you overcome them?

• We really need a fit-for-purpose premises that allows us to store and prepare food for collection. We’re looking to collaborate further with the MRREC and the new nursery to turn the MR Community Garden site into a vibrant and safe community hub.
• Unpredictable amounts of rescue food each week creates challenges, which is why being able to store food appropriately and allow us to more evenly spread the food from week to week is important.
• We are also keen to extend our services to deliver to the community and explore more opportunities for those in need to access the Pantry.

How can local residents contribute or volunteer to support the Pantry’s mission?

Like any community driven initiative, the Pantry relies on a dedicated group of passionate people committed to the Pantry’s core aims. Over time, both demand for the Pantry’s services, and the number of organisations and individuals contributing food to the Pantry, has grown.

Local residents can support the Pantry in many ways:

• Donate surplus homegrown vegetables. We even have pantry pickers who can help you pick!
• Donate dry goods at one of our donation baskets at Coles, Woolworths and IGA
• Make a money donation via the website
• Attend Community Pantry fundraising events
• Volunteer at the Pantry on Thursday & Friday mornings.

What are your future goals for the Pantry, and how do you envision its role in the community evolving?

•  Reach more people
• Help disadvantaged community members
• Become more mobile

Margaret River Community Pantry is open every Friday from 10:30 am to 12:00 at 41 Clarke Road, Margaret River.

For more information or to participate, visit www.margaretrivercommunitypantry.org.au

Follow on Instagram at mr_communitypantry

Contact via phone at 0448717098 or email at hello@margaretrivercommunitypantry.org.au

Mindful Margaret River is funded by the Mental Health Commission. You can find out more on our website mindfulmargarteriver.org.au, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @mindful_margaret_river