Basics of Starting a Food Pantry…

1. Get a team together

   1. Make it a team of trustworthy people who have transport and WWC checks.
   2. Contact Bec at ADRA for advice, assistance and help!  (see reasons to involve ADRA below)
   3. Have your church board approve the pantry for policy purposes.

2. Get a place to store your food.

   1. Make it a place you can lock and access easily. Be wise when it comes to who has access to the food.
   2. Usually it is at your local church, but it doesn’t have to be.
   3. Sort the food as it comes in and keep the products for those who have alternate diet needs separate to find them easily.

3. Reach out to local organizations for help providing food or assistance.

   1. Check in with your local supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths to see if they are willing to donate any food. Bakeries are also a great source of bread.
   2. Foodbank and other food reclamation organizations can also provide food at a cheap cost.
   3. Register with ADRA as they will be able to give assistance and may have volunteers in your area already.
   4. Make an appeal to your church members to collect food on a regular basis, have a box in your church for members and visitors to donate food.

4. Connect with people in your community in need.

   1. Let people know you are there and ready to help.
   2. Advertise your foodbank in local community newspapers.
   3. Contact your local council, they will be delighted and may coordinate with you to provide you details of those who need assistance in your community.
   4. Draw clear times up when foodbank is available.
   5. Decide if you want people to come to your foodbank or if you want to deliver only, or a mix.
   6. Charging a small fee for food bank is normal, and a small fee for delivery as well. This helps offset the cost of petrol for your volunteers.

5. Be the hands and feet of Jesus to your community.

   1. Don’t hide that you are from a church, but don’t have any other agenda other than feeding hungry people.
   2. Make friends with those who are in need in a non-judgmental way. Reassure them that we all go through times when we are need of assistance. Work to ensure their dignity is sustained.
   3. Serving at a Foodbank is a privilege and a real joy, and will give your church a more visible profile in the community

Seven reasons to involve ADRA

1. Part of a local network of like-minded Adventists. This provides economies of scale to support each other’s centres with resources, training, prayer and governance.
2. Part of a global network. This creates opportunities for increased awareness, funding and support. (for example: Funding received from ADRA International and ADRA Australia Op Shops to support the COVID-19 response)
3. ADRA can break though barriers for communities which may be against working closely with a church.
4. Accredited and a member of ACFID, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, FIA, Micah and the Church Agencies Network. This means our programs are developed to meet professional industry standards and governance protocols. Access and training to resources for operating your project in line with industry standards across work health and safety, financial and human resources.
5. Better together than independent… helps when conducting ADRA appeal, economies of scale, public relations, supporting one another with the ADRA prayer network and government support.
6. Seed funding and access to deductible gift recipient status for tax deductions.
7. Dual branding with SDA church on flyers (see below) and uniforms with Justice Compassion and Love branding.