![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2019\/12\/DSC_0106-for-web-300x200.jpg\")
A bit like a street library, principal Steven Trotter emphasised that it\u2019s not a take and replace system.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat defeats the purpose. We\u2019d prefer people to take the food if they need it, and not feel like they have to then give back,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a balance. It\u2019s going to support people in financial hardship, and if that\u2019s the case, you don\u2019t want them to feel under pressure like they have to give it back, or they\u2019re not going to use it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, just the element of access out here. It\u2019s probably an hour, round trip, to the supermarket. Not all of our families can do that, not all drive, and we\u2019ve got a general population of elderly people that may not drive, need to catch a bus, or to be driven.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Meredith pantry idea was sparked after grade 6 students attended a leadership day and brainstormed community issues, specifically access.<\/p>\n
Finishing their term four learning, the group will pass the pantry management and top-up baton to grade 5 pupils like 11-year-old Max.<\/p>\n
He said it\u2019s a positive addition to the town because busy family life can be challenging.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes people are not able to go to the supermarket with all their kids in the car, take them out of the car, put them back in, go home, cook… It\u2019s a bit too hard,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can just go up to the Meredith Pantry at the school and pick up some food, you can go and cook it for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Trotter said the local government has connected the school to charitable groups to keep the cupboard full of non-perishables.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want families to feel like they have to replace it, so we\u2019re sourcing food from food banks and other charities within the local area.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FRESHLY filled with its first stock of non-perishable food, the Meredith pantry is ready to serve its community if ever required. An initiative of Meredith Primary, the publicly accessible, weather-proof cupboard has been created to offer free grocery supplies to all local residents, not just school families, if ever they need the help. Installed at […]<\/p>\n