LINTON\u2019S Emergency Relief Pantry has launched a more formal and ongoing food-swap initiative.<\/p>\n
During the supply shortages of the pandemic, many town residents decided to plant and grow their own produce at home.<\/p>\n
But Linton and District Progress Association president Kylie Turville said veggie patches and orchards were offering more delicious goods than their owners needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people have excess, we thought, why don\u2019t we get them to either donate it, swap it, or do something with it to bring to the Pantry?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Although the old Shire Hall\u2019s Emergency Relief Pantry is open every day from 10am to 5pm, anyone is welcome to the more official food-swaps on Saturdays and Sundays.<\/p>\n
\u201cHomegrown produce has been really popular, like apples that would normally go to waste, pumpkins, tomatoes, quinces, and capsicums.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people have been bringing along homemade chutneys, which is another nice way of them using their excess produce, without throwing it out or letting it go to waste,\u201d Ms Turville said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a place where people can take this excess or come and get some other stuff. It\u2019s also a nice way for people to easily access locally and naturally grown produce.\u201d<\/p>\n
People are encouraged to swap items, like a pumpkin for some tomatoes for example, and if they\u2019re able to, the Pantry invites them to make a donation.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if it\u2019s 10 cents for a big pumpkin, that helps, but if they can\u2019t donate, we encourage them just to take some produce.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you need help, it\u2019s there. We will keep it going for as long as people want it,\u201d Ms Turville said.<\/p>\n
Anyone with containers or cans of non-perishables could also swap those for a packet of something like pasta.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe uptake has been really, really good. The response from community giving and taking is fabulous because Linton has a really strong community spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout community support with donations, it would disappear, but because of Linton, a few key people, and the support of the Shire, it\u2019s been able to continue,\u201d Ms Turville said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LINTON\u2019S Emergency Relief Pantry has launched a more formal and ongoing food-swap initiative. During the supply shortages of the pandemic, many town residents decided to plant and grow their own produce at home. But Linton and District Progress Association president Kylie Turville said veggie patches and orchards were offering more delicious goods than their owners […]<\/p>\n