Local farmer, Bill O’Sullivan is calling for home gardeners and other farmers to help people struggling with food security by donating excess to Tracey’s Pantry.
Run through the Scenic Rim Uniting Church Op Shop, Tracey’s Pantry provides boxes of groceries to people in need for a $10 donation.
Peter Venz, who collects bulk groceries from Foodbank every fortnight, said the need for hampers has increased in the last few months.
“At times we had four or five people coming through for hampers but now it is eighteen to twenty,” he said.
Peter said anyone who isn’t able to pay the $10 for a hamper will not be turned away.
Tullamore Farm’s Bill O’Sullivan is now bringing in his excess produce, including fresh bananas, tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables in season.
“I had workshops on the weekend and people asked where the excess goes and I let them know about Tracey’s Pantry,” he said.
“We’d love to see more people bring their excess produce here, whether it is a few limes or lemons or some macadamia nuts from a tree in their backyard.”
Judy Day has offered to be at the Op Shop on the corner of William and Duckett Streets, Beaudesert from 5pm to 5.30pm to collect produce donated.
Judy said she divided the first lot of bananas donated by Bill into twos and threes so that everyone who came in that day got fresh bananas.
Hampers can be collected between 1pm and 3pm every Friday.
For all enquiries about donating fresh produce or collecting hampers, please phone 5541 1018.
