Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2021 shows a street pantry set up by local residents to support people in need in Canberra, Australia. During the lockdown in Australia's capital Canberra, street pantries standing in quiet streets are a heart-warming sight. Containing food, toiletries and kids items, the wardrobes, shelves, cabinets and even abandoned fridges helped make people's life easier. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
CANBERRA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- During the lockdown in Australia's capital Canberra, street pantries standing in quiet streets are a heart-warming sight.
Containing food, toiletries and kids items, the wardrobes, shelves, cabinets and even abandoned fridges helped make people's life easier.
Among them was the Ainslie Community Pantry, located in a disused bus stop in the north of Canberra.
"The Ainslie Community Pantry has been especially busy during Canberra COVID-19 lockdown," said Christina Schwarz, founder of the pantry.
The pantry, with two cabinets in the traditional yellow-and-orange cylindrical concrete bus shelter, was established in January, when an organization, the Ainslie Buy Nothing Group, looked for a way to support other members and the wider community in times of COVID-19.
There were three administration pantry volunteers and a team of about five regular "pantry checkers" who took care of the pantry, refilling it and coordinating donations. Lots of people in the community donated to the pantry and assisted with its maintenance.
"The Ainslie Community Pantry is mostly for non-perishable food items and toiletries," Schwarz told Xinhua. "The most sought-after items include staples like rice, pasta, sauces, noodles, canned vegetables and snack foods, as well as toiletries like toilet paper, hair care products, dental products, and period products."
Due to COVID-19 concerns, Canberra entered a lockdown on Aug. 12, which is set to end on Oct. 15.
"There has been increased demand for items during this time, which has coincided with less overall resources to help in the community, due to physical restrictions and the financial impact of the pandemic," Schwarz said.
They worked with other pantries and volunteer organizations, such as the Chapman Street Pantry and Helping ACT, to increase their supply of goods and help the wider inner north Canberra community.
Unlike the Ainslie Community Pantry, the Dignity and Desire Street Pantry was ran by 52-year-old Lee Tammy herself. It was a big yellow wardrobe in front of Tammy's house, over which she built a shed.
"I identified there is a need in the community for free items for women and baby," she told Xinhua. So she started the pantry about 14 months ago, providing basic items such as nappies, formula, food for babies, food for families, as well as toiletries and sanitary products for women.
"We do accept donation from the public," said the owner. She has a donation box. Whenever she got donations, she sorted things out and put them in the pantry. Each day an average of 10 people visited to get help, said Tammy.
Driving along the roads in Canberra, one could easily come across pantries of different colors and styles. They were largely started by volunteers like Schwarz and Tammy, and it was hard to tell the exact number. On Facebook, the Canberra Street Pantry Group included more than 1,100 members.
Perhaps one of the success stories was the Ngunnawal Street Pantry by Margaret McGrath, which was set up a couple of years ago. Since then, more people have been involved and more pantries established. Now she and her husband have got nine pantries in four location, providing clothes, household goods, and children's toys.
"Some people rely on it and don't know what they would've done if it wasn't there," she said in an interview with the Canberra Times, sharing an example of a 17-year-old pregnant woman without family assistance who reached out to the Ngunnawal street pantry. "It's been life saving, life changing for them."
Now and then people asked the experienced volunteers questions of starting a pantry, which, as Schwarz said, was more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also shared information and resource in the network to keep the pantries running.
"We love the street pantry network which help each other out, share donations and make sure we can all help our communities," wrote the Ainslie Community Pantry on its Facebook account.
"In times like now, the Canberra community coming together to help our neighbors is truly wonderful." Enditem
Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2021 shows a street pantry which provides toys to local kids in Canberra, Australia. During the lockdown in Australia's capital Canberra, street pantries standing in quiet streets are a heart-warming sight. Containing food, toiletries and kids items, the wardrobes, shelves, cabinets and even abandoned fridges helped make people's life easier. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Lee Tammy, owner of the Dignity and Desire Street Pantry, arranges items at her pantry in Canberra, Australia, Sept. 22, 2021. During the lockdown in Australia's capital Canberra, street pantries standing in quiet streets are a heart-warming sight. Containing food, toiletries and kids items, the wardrobes, shelves, cabinets and even abandoned fridges helped make people's life easier. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Pam Ziegler, owner of a street pantry, arranges items inside her pantry in Canberra, Australia, Sept. 22, 2021. During the lockdown in Australia's capital Canberra, street pantries standing in quiet streets are a heart-warming sight. Containing food, toiletries and kids items, the wardrobes, shelves, cabinets and even abandoned fridges helped make people's life easier. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2021 shows the Dignity and Desire Street Pantry run by Lee Tammy in Canberra, Australia. During the lockdown in Australia's capital Canberra, street pantries standing in quiet streets are a heart-warming sight. Containing food, toiletries and kids items, the wardrobes, shelves, cabinets and even abandoned fridges helped make people's life easier. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
