Record figures at Linton food relief outlet

THE Linton Emergency Relief Pantry supplied basic food essentials to more than one hundred people in a single week for the first time earlier this month.

The rapid increase followed about two months of 80-plus visits a week, which itself was much higher than the historical average of about 60 people weekly.

But while acknowledging that many people are struggling, pantry manager Daryll Lees does not put the rise in demand down only to more families falling on hard times.

Instead, he believes it is because of word spreading about the pantry and what it can offer – particularly since it gained charity status and secured several constant contributors.

“I believe we’re filling a need that has already been there,” Mr Lees said. “But we’re still seeing a minimum of two or three new people a week.”

The pantry is located in the Linton Community Hub in Sussex Street and is open from 10am to 2pm Thursday to Sunday.

It offers a wide range of basic, staple household grocery requirements including milk and bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, UHT milk varieties, rice, pasta, cans of soup and condiments.

It also receives weekly deliveries of frozen pizzas, along with occasional treats.

Mr Lees said 240 kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables was being given to people each week, made up of an equal volume of 120 kilograms of each.

He said use of the pantry had been “patchy” until it secured its registered charity status and locked in several regular donation deliveries about 18 months ago.

Volunteers travel to the Foodbank site in Wendouree to pick up stock every week, while Geelong Foodshare and the Ballarat Soup Kitchen make regular contributions.

Individuals with connections or involvement in the food industry also make occasional donations.

While Mr Lees said the need had always existed, he acknowledged that many Australians were suddenly finding themselves in difficulty – something he had never witnessed before.

“The world didn’t get nasty in four weeks,” he said, “but it’s the working poor. Many of them have jobs but they’re just not making it.

“There’s a lot of pressure on people.”

Mr Lees said the pantry’s customers ranged from families with young children to even single men and women.

He said anyone was welcome to visit the pantry, and its motto was simple.

“Take what you need, donate what you can,” he said.

The pantry’s Facebook page is at facebook.com/groups/1362084777521743.