A new community pantry (Pātaka Kai) in Alexandra is helping to feed people battling with increasing food costs.

The pantry was built by the Alexandra Men’s Shed and opened in December.

It is a free community resource and can be found on the corner of Clutha and Ashworth St (outside Able Minds). 

Organiser Claire Scherp said the idea grew from hearing about people struggling with the cost of living.

‘It snowballed a little bit…it’s going to be registered with Pātaka Kai Aotearoa network and put on the map… signage is coming and a Facebook page [too].

“I want the community to take ownership of it.”

Local social media group comments have been positive with many people saying they will be dropping off food and produce when they can.

Words used to describe the initiative were “fantastic”, “awesome”, “super cool” and ”great mahi”.

There is another community pantry at the back of the Salvation Army on Royal Terrace.

The idea behind these pantries is food is available for anyone who needs it - no forms are required, no appointments - you can drop by and grab what you need, no questions asked.

The community pantry operates on a ‘take what you need and leave what you can’ basis

Claire said thanks were due to Uruuruwhenua, Alexandra Men’s Shed, New World, Bin Inn, Placemakers, Central Otago Sports Depot, and The Salvation Army for helping to get the pantry up and running.

“The general community has been great, also the neighbours who will have increased traffic [now].”

The rise in the cost of food is tracked by Statistics New Zealand’s (Stats NZ) food price index (FPI). It measures the changes in prices that households pay for food each month.

Food prices were 10.7 percent higher in November 2022 compared with November 2021, Stats NZ said last month.

In November 2022 compared with November 2021:

• fruit and vegetable prices increased 20 per cent
• meat, poultry, and fish prices increased 12 per cent
• grocery food prices increased ten per cent
• non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by almost eight per cent
• restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices increased eight per cent.

Stats NZ consumer prices manager James Mitchell said grocery food was the largest contributor to this movement.

“Increasing prices for cheddar cheese, yoghurt, and standard two-litre milk were the largest drivers within grocery food.”

The next FPI is due out on January 19. 

How is your household coping with the spiralling costs of food? Let [email protected] know.  

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