An eleventh-hour reprieve means the Hamilton Community Pantry has been saved — for now.
The pantry provides food, clothing, blankets, sanitary products and other essentials to anyone in need and is replenished by community members, often responding to social media posts.
A motion to reverse plans by the Newcastle Council to close the service was passed at its June 29 meeting.
The resolution, moved by Labor Councillors, called on Council to work with Food Not Bombs and other agencies on ways to “support the appropriate, safe and clean provision of items and services that are needed,” like the pantry.
People mobilised when closure notices were posted in the pantry’s lockers.
Food Not Bombs activist Tom Wickert told Green Left that the pantry and the free food service held on Mondays and Wednesday evenings is more about building community and maintaining commons than being a charity.