A near-free food pantry has opened in Beenleigh, offering relief to locals struggling to afford groceries and keep a roof over their heads.
The emergency relief initiative will be run by the Beenleigh District Community Development Association (BDCDA) from the Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre.
For a gold coin donation, locals will have access to bread, fresh produce, pantry staples and frozen foods every Thursday between 11am and 2.30pm.
BDCDA’s community development officer Anthony Ketland said many struggling locals visited the neighbourhood centre seeking help.
“We have already helped them in other ways, but the issue seems to be one of food insecurity,” Mr Ketland said.
“The cost of living is crazy at the moment, especially grocery prices.
“We’re seeing a lot of homelessness – it is absolutely incredible.”
He said many of those who sought help from the centre were sleeping rough, with some living in the “tent city” down the road.
“At best, they’re couch surfing,” Mr Ketland said.
“I spoke to a lady recently who is pregnant and living in Hugh Muntz Park next to Beenleigh Marketplace.
“It’s just a terrible situation and obviously governments and NGOs are trying to respond to this as best they can, but you just feel for these people and want to do what you can to help in the limited capacity that you’ve got.”
Items found in the food pantry, which will include pet food and cleaning products, will be supplied by a local charity called Warm Hearts Warm Bellies The Street Ministry.
Founder Pete Underwood said the pantry would be restocked twice a week with fresh bread and produce.
“It will have everything you need in your house,” she said.
Ms Underwood’s charity sources its goods through organisations like Foodbank, OzHarvest, and SecondBite.
Some items she buys with money from her own pocket.
Ms Underwood and BDCDA spent the last week sourcing items for the pantry as well as large freezers, shelves, and the space to store everything.
“We don’t have buckets of money,” Mr Ketland said.
“To be able to support the local community in Beenleigh – we jumped at that.”
The Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre will also be offering appointments with a financial councillor from Good Shepherd AU.
These will be available every second Tuesday starting 22 October.
The counsellor will also schedule drop-in visits to the new food hub.
