YOU might not have a full pantry at home but there’s something hopeful, reassuring and warming about walking into the Phil Dixon Pantry at the Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre (PICAL) in Cowes and seeing it groaning with fresh produce and shelves of cans, bottles and packets of food.
But intending donors don’t be deterred.
There’s such demand at the PICAL Pantry, named in the memory of the late Phil Dixon, and others like it across Bass Coast and South Gippsland that donations of fresh produce and non-perishables are always welcome and guaranteed to find dozens of deserving dinner tables.
“There’s a lot more demand, definitely. We’ve noticed that especially in the past year,” said Darren in the storage room at PICAL located at 16 Warley Avenue, Cowes.
“We accept produce daily between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday and the pantry is open each day for emergency food relief to the people in our community experiencing hardship,” he said.
“We provide food and staples in the form of meat, vegetables, frozen meals, canned food, grocery items and pet food. Our volunteers who work in the pantry are there five days-a-week to serve members of the community in need.”
The PICAL community garden supplies fresh produce to the pantry while a significant amount of the food is donated by Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and other local suppliers.
They also get supplies from Foodbank Victoria.
And almost nothing goes to waste with volunteers coming in regularly to prepare fresh meals to be frozen to meet the demand for prepared food.
It’s a thriving service where the increased in demand acts a barometer for the depth of the cost-of-living crisis.
More emergency food
There are a range of similar emergency food programs across Bass Coast and South Gippsland with the local shire able to help those seeking to make contact.
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The Cowes Community Meal is a project by St John’s Uniting Church, located at the corner of Chapel Street and Warley Avenue, Cowes. They offer a free meal every Monday night from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, and everyone is welcome.
- Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre – free community panty on the front steps. There are also frozen meals available by stepping inside and asking. WNC also has a weekly free community meal 12.30pm every Wednesday during school terms. Gold coin donation appreciated.
- Inverloch Community House Soup Café. When: 2nd Tuesday of the month (9th July, 13th Aug, 10th Sep etc) 2024, from 12 midday to 1.30pm. Where: Inverloch Community Hub, 16 A’Beckett St, Inverloch. Cost: Pay what you can.
- Wonthaggi Anglican Church: St George's Anglican Church Wonthaggi. Food Rescue available on Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am-11:30am. (at the back of the church).
- Youth – YES Youth Hub, Wonthaggi has a pantry for young adults and also laundry facilities, amongst other things. They also have meal nights.
- Milpara Emergency Foodbank – Monday, Tuesday and Friday 10am – 3pm. During School holidays: Tues, Wed Thurs 10am – 1pm.
- Manna Gum Community House, 33 Station Road, Foster provides emergency relief to the local Corner Inlet community, operating its Community Cafe on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am - 2pm and providing food relief daily 10am-3pm. Phone 5682 1101.
Please advise of changes to these details or additional details of other emergency food services in South Gippsland and Bass Coast to news@sgst.com.au
