MANY people may assume the Canowindra Food Basket is only for those experiencing financial hardship, but organisers are keen to dispel this myth.
Operating from the Canowindra Uniting Church building, the Food Basket is open for everyone with staff encouraging residents to shop there knowing every purchase helps strengthen a service that gives directly back to the community.
Centre operations manager Staci Watson said the Food Basket was created for everyone, no matter their circumstance.
“We really want people to understand that anyone can shop here,” she said.
“The more people who shop here, the more food we’re able to purchase, the more variety we can offer and the more we can reinvest into our community.”
The Food Basket stocks a range of affordable groceries, including fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, pantry staples, frozen meals, meat, and locally sourced produce.
Much of the food is purchased through organisations such as Foodbank and Food Rescue Central West, as well as local suppliers.
“We actually buy our groceries,” Ms Watson said. “People often think everything is given to us, but that’s not the case.”
The service welcomes surplus fruit, vegetables and homemade products from local growers and residents, helping to reduce waste while supporting others in the community.
Seasonal produce, such as citrus, regularly finds its way onto shelves, while locally made relishes, preserves, and frozen meals are also available.
Food Basket communication officer Beck Carter first became involved as a volunteer before joining the staff
She said she regularly shops there herself.
“For us, it supplements our grocery shopping,” she said. “It means we can still support local businesses while keeping our grocery list manageable.”
With cost-of-living pressures continuing to affect households across the region, organisers say they have noticed increasing numbers of working families access the service.
“We’ve definitely seen more working families coming through,” Ms Watson said.
“We don’t want people thinking there are others more deserving than them. If everyone shopped here, we’d have more money to buy more groceries and support more people.”
The Food Basket operates as a community shopping event, with visitors encouraged to stay for a cup of tea and a chat. Organisers say creating opportunities for community members to connect is just as important as providing affordable food.
“Everything we do is about connecting people,” Ms Watson said.
“We want people to come in, have a conversation and feel welcome.”
Beyond the grocery shelves, the centre hosts a wide variety of other community activities, including technology assistance sessions, art classes, men’s barbecues, Meals and Memories lunches and support groups. The centre also works closely with organisations including Vinnies Service NSW and other local agencies to connect residents with additional support when needed.
For organisers, the message is simple: the Food Basket belongs to the whole community.
Whether shoppers are looking to stretch the weekly grocery budget, support a community initiative or simply pick up fresh local produce, every purchase helps keep the shelves stocked and allows the centre to continue investing in programs that bring people together.
The Canowindra Food Basket operates every Thursday and Friday in the Canowindra Uniting Church building and is open to all. Groceries are individually priced, with payment by cash or bank transfer.