Chermside Pantry
For over 30 years, the Parishioners of the Anglican Parish of Aspley Albany Creek have been supporting the Anglican Parish of Chermside with donations of Food, Food Vouchers and Personal items as part of their Christian Outreach to the less fortunate and needy of all faiths and ages in the wider Chermside Northern Brisbane Area as emergency relief.
Their Ministry is titled WOMBAT..stands for “We offer Manna, Balm and Time” Some years ago, our Parish shortened this to “Chermside Pantry” and it is easily understood by that name and describes the “Manna” part of the our wider local community Outreach Ministry.
The Pantry operates from the Parish Centre three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00am – 1:00pm.
Aspley Albany Creek Anglican Parish has for many years been one of the main contributors of food and personal supplies as well as cash donations… five other local Anglican Parishes also contribute to the Pantry Food needs. The trained Chermside Parish Volunteers provide the “Balm” and “Time” through a safe place for all to come and time to be heard at All Saints.
The Ministry was commenced by All Saints Parishioner, Mrs. Rita Hillier OAM in 1990 and is run by four or five rostered teams of dedicated Volunteers providing food and pantry items for the needy at a food, groceries and personal supplies distribution center based at the Church Administration Office at All Saints Anglican Church Chermside operating under strict Covid Risk management controls.
Each week, our Parishioners are informed of the main items needed in short supply to restock the Pantry.
Food and pantry items as well as Aldi and Coles Food Vouchers and cash donated from parishioners of our parish are taken down to Chermside weekly for packaging and immediate distribution by their Volunteers who “man” the Centre three mornings a week 10am to 1pm. Food is sorted on arrival and carefully packed into one person, two person or family packs. Out of date and perishable food is discarded. No cash is given out. Time is willingly spent with “Clients” who wish to reach out and talk and experienced Volunteers always respond where they can.
The Rector of Chermside Parish, who lives on site, handles urgent out of hours food requests.
Two large dry goods baskets are stationed in the Aspley Albany Creek Church Narthex entry for donations of the Food and these are cleared each week by taking what has been given to the Chermside Pantry as well as being collected from Parishioners who cannot get to Church.
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