NOOSA Civic Shopping Centre has teamed up with food rescue group REAP to create The Little Community Pantry, a food drive to help those in need all year round.
The food drive encourages the donation of non-perishable food items at a central collection point in the centre for distribution locally to those in need.
Delivered in partnership with REAP’s Sunshine Coast chapter, the initiative encourages people to contribute to the Little Community Pantry by either collecting an extra food item during shopping or donating surplus unopened food items from home.
Noosa Civic Shopping Centre manager Brian Turner said it was great to see the new initiative already gaining strong support.
“Since installing The Little Community Pantry in the centre last week, we’ve received a lot of positive feedback and even some donations already from customers. We think this is something our community will really get on board with,” he said.
An extension of leading food rescue organisation OzHarvest, REAP was created in 2011 as a regional food rescue tool, developed to share OzHarvest’s knowledge and expertise on how to rescue good food to feed people in need.
REAP Sunshine Coast Chapter co-ordinator Michelle Lipner said the new initiative would provide great benefits for the local community.
“I am thrilled REAP Sunshine Coast is entering into this wonderful partnership with Noosa Civic in a true example of locals helping locals,” Ms Lipner said.
REAP’s The Little Community Pantry donation point is located near Woolworths in Noosa Civic Shopping Centre and all donations of sealed non-perishable, glass-free food items are very much welcomed.
In particular, the program welcomes donations of rice and pasta, canned fruit and vegetables, long life milk and juice/poppers, breakfast and whole grain cereals, canned protein foods such as tuna and salmon, stews (ring pull cans only please), tea and coffee, biscuits, dried fruits and toiletries.
To find out more about The Little Community Pantry visit www.noosacivicshopping.com.au.
