Cumberland Council is rolling out two new community pantries to help struggling residents amid inflation and the rising cost of living.
The first Cumberland community pantry is set to officially open its doors on 13 June 2023, offering residents relief in the form of essential items such as pantry staples, toiletries and personal hygiene products.
Cumberland Council Mayor, Lisa Lake, welcomed the initiative and said that she hoped the program would help provide much needed relief for struggling households in Cumberland.
“The rising costs of living, coupled with inflation and increasingly high interest rates, has left many people struggling to make ends meet,” Mayor Lake said.
“Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that the cost of groceries has increased by eight per cent year on year, which means that anyone living on or below the margin is really struggling. At least 22 per cent of households in Cumberland are low-income households that struggle to manage normally, let alone with these added pressures.”
There will be two community pantries, located in Auburn and Wentworthville, which will be operated by volunteers from Sewa Australia, the Australia Korea Cultural Exchange Association and Beyond Services.
The Auburn Community Pantry will operate every Tuesday, beginning 13 June 2023, between 10am and 12pm at the Auburn Centre for Community.
The Wentworthville Community Pantry will operate every Monday from 19 June 2023 between 10am and 12pm at the Wentworthville Community Centre.
Community donations of non-perishable items are welcomed during these times.
The Cumberland community pantry project was passed as a Notice of Motion at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 24 August 2022.
Featured image: Cumberland Council’s community pantry. Courtesy of Cumberland Council.
