Food is Free / Pantry

Albert Street Community Cupboard (Brunswick)
Township/suburb:
Brunswick
Municipality:
Merri-Bek
Blackburn North Community Cupboard
Township/suburb:
Blackburn North
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

Grab food for your cupboard or leave something to share.

Free for everyone.

Fresh food donations are welcome. Please do not leave items that need to be refrigerated. Non-perishable food pantry staples can be donated to the food pantry inside the building.

Diamond Creek Community Pantry
Township/suburb:
Diamond Creek
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Eastern Food Rescue (formerly Food is Free Mitcham)
Township/suburb:
Mitcham
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

Eastern Food Rescue (formerly Food is Free Mitcham) is an outdoor free access pantry for everyone who eats food, where locals can either donate goods or take things that they need. As well as the pantry in Mitcham, there is another in Ringwood, at the Salvation Army, 49-53 Wantirna Road.

The main aims are to avoid food and goods going into landfill and to help those in the community who may be struggling. An added bonus is that having the pantry in the community boosts morale and gives everyone a warm fuzzy feeling.

They collect donations from various local businesses to help keep the pantry full and also rely on community donations from neighbours. You can donate anything going unused in your pantry (no open packets), excess produce from your garden, or household items such as toiletries and nappies. If you donate fresh fruit, vegetables or bread, please post on their Facebook group to make sure that people can collect it quickly.

A special thanks to their regular donors: Bakers Bun (The Pines), Bakers Delight (Brentford Square, Wantirna Mall & Vermont South), Wendy’s Bakery (Mitcham), Mylk Bar (Mitcham) and Two Brothers (Mitcham).

Eltham Community Pantry
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Eltham Community Pantry
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Managed by LINC on behalf of The Food Collective.

Food is Free Blackburn
Township/suburb:
Blackburn
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

This is a social permaculture initiative to share resources, distribute surplus, create connection, help other people, and strengthen community ties.

Food is Free Hurstbridge
Township/suburb:
Hurstbridge
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This initiative is one of a number of related food-related initiatives at the site (others include a food swap, a community garden and a seed library).

The Food is Free table is situated under the verandah outside the entrance to the Hurstbridge Community Hub.

Anyone in the community can take from table and you don’t need to contribute anything or leave items in its place. Homegrown food and other items that are left over from the twice monthly food swap are placed on the Food is Free table for everyone in the community to access.

Individual donations of food and garden-related items can be left on the table at any time. Don’t throw those extras in the compost, red bin or recycle: share them with the community!

You can join their Facebook group for regular updates on what is happening.

Food is Free Nunawading
Township/suburb:
Nunawading
Municipality:
Whitehorse
Notes (in their own words):

Food is Free Nunawading aims to give back and build community connections through the sharing of surplus food and produce.

Food is Free Ringwood East
When:
Open 24/7
Township/suburb:
Ringwood East
Municipality:
Maroondah
Notes (in their own words):

People leave surplus from their pantry or garden. It is all about community and contribution. Generosity, in giving and receiving. All are welcome. It is all free. Located on the fence line and open 24/7.

Food is Free Warrandyte
Township/suburb:
Warrandyte
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

The food has all been donated— it’s fresh and free to anybody who needs it. There are gold coin donation boxes to help people feel more comfortable taking the food.

Food is Free, Kilsyth
When:
Open 24/7
Township/suburb:
Kilsyth
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Give what you can, take what you can use. For all neighbours to share in: unopened pantry, toiletries & sanitary items; fresh garden veggies & fruits; and bakery items.

Greenhills Neighbourhood House
Township/suburb:
Greensborough
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

Greenhills Neighbourhood House has a food relief centre that offers fresh food, pantry items and toiletries on Thursdays and Fridays each week (except between Christmas and New Year). They also serve low-cost barista coffee. More generally, they offer support to everyone and can also give referrals to other connected programs.

In line with their model of ‘donate what you can and take what you need’, they accept donations from the local community.

They often organise swaps (of books, puzzles, plants and clothes) to reduce waste in the community.

They have community composting and recycling programs plus a number of veggies beds.

Grow Free, Lalor
Township/suburb:
Lalor
Municipality:
Whittlesea
Notes (in their own words):

‘Grow Free’ is a movement “dedicated to making our food locally grown, organic and free” and they are currently” all about growing and giving away free organic, heirloom veggie/herb/flower seedlings for people to get their garden going“. The movement started out in Adelaide but is now coming to Melbourne.

Heathmont Community Pantry
Township/suburb:
Heathmont
Municipality:
Maroondah
Notes (in their own words):

Heathmont Community Pantry is a free access pantry where locals can either donate goods or take what they need. Help them divert food from landfill and help out the community at the same time.

Hurstbridge Community Pantry
When:
Open 24/7
Township/suburb:
Hurstbridge
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Managed by Vines Baptist Church on behalf of The Food Collective.

Montrose Community Cupboard
Township/suburb:
Kilsyth, Montrose
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Montrose Community Cupboard is much more than a community pantry and undertakes a wide range of activities in pursuit of its mission to rescue food from landfill and re-distribute it to the local community.

They have two community pantries, a weekly Saturday market and monthly community meals.

The two community pantries are located at Japara Bridge House, 49 Durham Road, Kilsyth and Montrose Church of Christ, 7 Leith Road, Montrose. The Kilsyth pantry is open 24/7 whilst the Montrose one is open Monday-Saturday 7am-9pm and Sunday midday-8pm. Members of the public can take what they want and are also invited to leave veggies, fruit, herbs, plants, seeds, seedlings or any non-perishable items.

The weekly market is on Saturdays, 3-4pm at either Japara Bridge House, 49 Durham Road, Kilsyth or Montrose Scout Hall, Unit 2/950, Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Montrose. See their website for which markets will be at which locations. All the food at the market is free.

The free, monthly, two course, community meals are usually on the 4th Sunday of each month, 6-7.30pm, at Montrose Public Hall, 1B Leith Road, Montrose. Everyone is welcome, as are donations of non-perishable food. During winter (June and August), there will be a lunchtime meal instead, with the team taking a break for the month of July. Read an article about the meals in the Lilydale Star Mail.

Finally, they have a street library (books, dvds, etc) at 16 St James Avenue, Montrose.

Panton Hill Community Pantry
When:
Open 24/7
Township/suburb:
Panton Hill
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Managed by the Living & Learning Centre on behalf of The Food Collective.

Reservoir Neighbourhood House
Township/suburb:
Reservoir
Municipality:
Darebin
Notes (in their own words):

Reservoir Neighbourhood House has a ‘community pantry’, which is simply an open cupboard fixed to the outside wall to which people can either donate, or freely take out, any non-perishable food. In practice, most of the food is bought from a local supermarket using a local, grant.

It appears that most of the food is taken within a few hours of being placed there. In response, although the Neighbourhood House staff buy most of the produce on a Monday morning, they spread out the timing of its placement in the pantry. Anyone can take anything that they want whenever they want and they don’t need to interact with the Neighbourhood House staff to do so.

Monday to Thursday, the Neighbourhood House is open for emergency food relief. On Monday nights and Thursday mornings, they give away free bread. Every other Tuesday, they have a delivery of fresh produce. On the 2nd Tuesday of every month, they have a free lunch.

Reservoir share table
When:
Open 24/7
Township/suburb:
Reservoir
Municipality:
Darebin
Notes (in their own words):

This share table was started after reading about the Food is Free movement and initially comprised seedlings from CERES that were not quite good enough for them to sell at their nursery. This grew into bringing excess home and leaving them for others in the neighbourhood to rescue. More recently, a planter box has been added that others can take herbs from plus a box to share excess produce. The initiative has also fostered stronger connections between the neighbours.

Updates about availability are posted to the Reservoir Plant Exchange and Reservoir Good Karma Network Facebook groups.

Rosanna Community Pantry
When:
Open 24/7
Township/suburb:
Rosanna
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Managed by Rosanna Fire Station Neighbourhood House on behalf of The Food Collective.

SecondBite Diamond Creek
Township/suburb:
Diamond Creek
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

SecondBite in Diamond Creek is open every Saturday, 9-10am. It provides, at no cost, a wide variety of fresh produce and other edible goods available to those facing food insecurity or challenges. No referral is required; just drop by and collect fruit and vegetables that would otherwise have gone to waste. Any surplus that is left over is then taken to the Food is Free table in Hurstbridge.

The initiative is operated by The Rotary Club of Diamond Creek in partnership with SecondBite. The aims are to lessen waste and reduce hunger by:

  • Giving food producers and retailers the opportunity to reduce surplus and unsold food.
  • Re-distributing high quality surplus food to the community.
  • Diverting nutritious, edible, quality food from entering landfill, thus promoting environmental well-being.
Strathewen Community Pantry
When:
Open 24/7
Township/suburb:
Strathewen
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Managed by the school on behalf of The Food Collective.

Strathewen
Township/suburb:
Greensborough
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

The Food Collective is an initiative of Diamond Valley Community Support which brings together a number of local delivery and donation partners, community organisations and individuals to address food security challenges for vulnerable and disadvantaged community members in the Diamond Valley Region. They do this by sourcing and supplying basic non-perishable food parcels of everyday necessities to those who are experiencing financial crisis and needing emergency relief assistance.

One of its main initiatives to date has been the establishment of community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food.

Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Their pantries are in:

  • Diamond Creek (St Johns Diamond Creek). Open 24/7.
  • Eltham (Eltham Lions Club). Open 24/7.
  • Eltham (St Margaret’s Anglican Church). Open 24/7 and managed by LINC.
  • Hurstbridge (Hurstbridge Community Hub). Open 24/7 and managed by the Vines Baptist Church.
  • Panton Hill (Panton Hill Living & Learning Centre). Open 24/7 and managed by the living & learning centre.
  • Rosanna (Rosanna Fire Station Community House). Open 24/7 and managed by the community house.
  • Strathewen (Strathewen Primary School). Open 24/7 and managed by the school.
  • Warrandyte (Warrandyte Neighbourhood House). Open Wednesdays, 10am-midday and managed by Carenet.
  • Watsonia (Watsonia Neighbourhood House). Open 24/7 and managed by the neighbourhood house.
Thornbury Church of Christ
Township/suburb:
Thornbury
Municipality:
Darebin
Notes (in their own words):

They operate a food relief/rescue program, open Mondays and Wednesdays 2.30-5pm and Fridays 10am-12:30pm. The produce available includes bakery items, fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen pre-cooked meals and various pantry items. Anyone can come, it is a walk in service and no ID is required. Donations are always welcome.

There is a outdoor community pantry (Smith St Community Pantry), which is open 24/7 and is accessible from the footpath on the Smith Street side of the church property. Give what you can and take only what you need. As well as unopened non-perishable food, it often contains bread and garden produce plus toiletries and cleaning products. It is always open for donations.

The pantry has its own Facebook and Instagram pages.

The Think Local Community Cafe, which is a social enterprise business, operates from a food truck at the front of the church and is open Monday to Friday, 6am-1pm. They do coffee, toasties and a selection of vegan/gluten free muffins and cakes. It will hopefully generate funds to begin a weekly evening meal in the future.

Warrandyte Community Pantry
When:
Open on Wednesdays only, 10am-midday
Township/suburb:
Warrandyte
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Managed by Carenet on behalf of The Food Collective.

Watsonia Community Pantry
Township/suburb:
Watsonia
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

This is one of 9 community pantries around Banyule and Nillumbik. These pantries contain non-perishable food which is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, require no appointments and are open to whoever needs food. Their philosophy is give what you can, take what you need, with people able to donate to the pantry as well.

Managed by Watsonia Neighbourhood House on behalf of The Food Collective.