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:
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.
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