The City of Launceston will begin the trial of a new community pantry in Civic Square next week, allowing people to donate food and personal hygiene items for those in need in our community.
Community pantries have grown in popularity around the globe in recent years as a simple way for people to support those who may be struggling.
Items donated through community pantries include packaged foods like rice, pasta and tinned foods along with everyday necessities like hygiene and sanitary products.
However, due to safety and legal concerns, a fridge installed as a community pantry by an anonymous group in Princes Square this week has been removed.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the Council had reached out to the team behind the Princes Square fridge to explain the fridge's removal and to invite them to be part of the
upcoming community pantry trial in Civic Square.
"We are currently left on read but have sent a message through asking if they might be open to partnering with us to help brand or promote the new community pantry," Mayor Garwood said.
"If, for example, they wished to partner with us to develop new branding for the trial, we have the means to undertake professional printing, vinyl wraps, posters, stickers and other materials.
"It's super important to get across that we can't just have an old fridge tied to a tree in one of our parks. It's a great concept, but it doesn't meet any safety standards.
"If there was some sort of incident with the fridge falling over, or someone eating perishable food from that fridge, it could be the Council and our community who are liable.
"The initiative and heart behind this project is awesome and I'm keen to work with the team involved to see if they're interested in our Civic Square community pantry trial which we are
launching next week.
"This is where we can step in and help a project like this while also understanding that local governments have serious legal requirements to meet.
"This Civic Square trial will have all appropriate permissions in place and will operate with the same ethos and spirit as the Princes Square initiative.
"From next week, you will find the new Community Pantry located at the rear of the Tasmania Police station in Civic Square, where we hope it will be less prone to vandalism and closer to CBD
services and amenities.
"Throughout the trial we will be open to considering new locations, new storage devices, and other variables.
"The Council will take a passive role in monitoring its use, and we hope the Launceston community will engage during the trial."
