Street food pantries are spreading kindness across Sydney
This growing trend is one of many ways that people are giving back during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please share your stories of community spirit with us in the form below.
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While life during the COVID-19 pandemic has become synonymous with loss, financial struggles and isolation, it has also been the catalyst for many inspiring acts of kindness.
The recent rise in street pantries — a concept similar to a street library which invites people to leave food and other essentials in a community pantry so others can take what they need — is a prime example of this.
Newtown resident Maureen Lee said she and her housemates Michelle Gomes and Joyce Akinpe were inspired to create one back in March after seeing examples of street pantries online in the US.
Within a matter of hours, they had found a second-hand cupboard and the Newtown Blessing Box was born. Soon after, the donations started pouring in.
“The response has been more powerful than we ever could’ve imagined,” Lee said. “The community spirit and generosity that has been nurtured is phenomenal.”
To this day, the blessing box, located on the corner of Station and Bedford Sts, continues to be a growing source of generosity and hope for the Newtown community.
Lee said some of the many contributions from people and local businesses have included hundreds of chocolates around Easter, restaurant vouchers and sought-after essentials such as toilet paper.
“Some people head to work and check the box every morning to see what’s needed and buy it on the way home to place in the box,” Lee said.
“The mental health benefits of community belonging, connectivity and feeling as if the community has your back has been beautiful to witness during such a difficult and lonely time for so many.”
The Newtown Blessing Box has been the inspiration for many other new street pantries, such as the 2044 Community Pantry in Tempe and the Ville Food Pantry in Marrickville. Lee said there are also blessing boxes that are currently in the process of being set up in Petersham, Ashfield, Rockdale and Maroubra.
The Darlo Pantry is another recent addition to the street pantry trend, which was set up outside of Rough Edges in Darlinghurst by the Darlo Darlings to collect food donations for the homeless.
The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre in Marrickville are helping many people to join the trend by building street pantries out of recycled materials.
Manager Guido Verbist said their standard street library design (starting from $90) can be made within one to two days.
“They are ready to use, the only choice that can be made is if they want it to be painted or not and we can do that for them or they can do that themselves,” he said.
The Bower have also made some larger, bespoke pantries, including the Ville Food Pantry in Marrickville.
Mr Verbist said people can place orders for a street pantry by emailing info@bower.org.au.
The street pantries are one of many new projects that The Bower has started to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic, which also include the launch of an online repair cafe and a new e-tool library for borrowing electronic appliances.
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