Shared Table continues its important service

Shared Table Community Kitchen will continue to offer its important service of heavily discounted groceries and verandah food, with some enhancements.

From this month, customers will be able to purchase a bag of groceries at $15 per bag with a limit of two bags per family.

The bags are valued at $80 each and people can select quantities of items from the pantry’s shelves.

In addition to the $15 bags, other items including meat, fish, plant-based items, fruit, vegetables, breads, milk and other dairy products will be available, pending availability.

The price for goods is a contribution towards running the service.

While supermarkets donate goods, Shared Table also purchases items through Food Bank to ensure it has an adequate supply of goods.

Shared Table volunteer Joan Griffiths explained that the introduction of the bag of groceries, rather than hampers, would be less labour-intensive for the organisation’s volunteers.

She said the new system also ensures people can select their own items and limits any waste.

“You never know when you’re packing a hamper what will be used by people,” she said.

The pantry service will be available on Fridays, from 10am to 11.45am.

Verandah items, including breads, milk, dairy products and fruit and vegetables, will be available from Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 11.15am.

“Some people might feel too proud coming in and getting items for free,” Mrs Griffiths said.

“There would be a lot of pensioners who would benefit from this.”

Shared Table has been operating in Narrabri for many years under the auspices of Jericho Road (affiliated with the Presbyterian Church).

“People are very appreciative of what Shared Table provides to the community,” Mrs Griffiths said.

Mrs Griffiths said a cooked lunch will continue to be provided on Fridays at 12pm (with the exception of holidays).

While the services continue to help people who need assistance the most, Shared Tables faces its own challenges with rising costs.

The costs of items the organisations purchases has almost doubled.

Mrs Griffiths thanked the generosity of local organisations and businesses in providing financial support to Shared Table.