Take a box of pantry food to a food bank

What’s in the cupboard?

What’s in the cupboard that you bought and never got to? Tinned soup, a spare bag of pasta, long-life milk, or even just the baked beans at the back. Unopened and in date is the main test. Box it up and take it somewhere on your way past.

Pick the one closest to you

All four take unopened, in-date food; Uniting and Foodbank take toiletries too. Check the page or ring before you go.

Uniting Food For Families
Drop-off sites across Melbourne and regional Victoria, all year round. Use the finder, then ring the site to confirm.

Foodbank Victoria
One warehouse in Altona, weekdays, contact-free drop. Best if you’re out west or driving past.

Empower Australia
Southbank, Lower Plenty, Ringwood and Clyde North. Sundays only, short windows, and items need three months left on the date.

Or a community pantry: give-what-you-can boxes outside libraries, neighbourhood houses and churches, many open around the clock. Search your council or library site for one near you; the north-east has Local Food Connect’s list.

How to do this

1. Pick your drop-off and check its days.
2. Pull out unopened, in-date tins and packets.
3. Box them up and leave the box by the door.
4. Drop it off on your way past. Done.

Sources: Foodbank Victoria’s and Uniting Food For Families’ most-needed lists.