Ngunnawal Street Pantries to close down unless exemption provided by government, say organisers

To me the pantry looks more like an Op-shop than a Pantry. And apart from all being non compliant (illegal) no one in their right mind would want to wake up to that mess you see above every single day or should be subjected to it . It’s a residential area with narrow streets not a Business District.
Access Canberra should have acted on the first complaint and had the garden shed dismantled/removed. Time for the circus to close. This madness has gone on long enough.

I’d like to firstly say good on them for wanting to help the community and I’m all for it but not at the expense of the residents in the direct area. Today is Sunday and as such it should be a peaceful scenario. This is not the case! At a certain time in the afternoon the street becomes a absolute mess. People coming and going usually parking where they’re not supposed to. Usually on the footpaths or worse. Bringing people from all walks of life including undesirables. This pantry has been operating for the best part of 5 years and it is time to give someone else the chance to help and give the residents a well earned rest from this madness. In my opinion it shouldn’t have been allowed to operate in such an area, at least not residential. The only respite the residents get us school holidays. Enough is enough! Give the residents their street back!

Is there anyone out there that really believes this claptrap? Like really! Maybe ohzOne you should get out into the community and volunteer for one of the many community charity organisations that work closely with the ACT government and its agencies to help those living in poverty and those living on the streets. It is not easy. All governments can do more. Hands Across Canberra, Vinnies, St Vincent de Paul and other charity groups in Canberra whose volunteers go out of their way, going above and beyond to help those in need.
Poverty and homelessness are not social issues isolated to Canberra. It is a challenge experienced by governments throughout Australia.
It is a problem I have seen get worse after 10 years of miserly cutbacks from a conservative Liberal government!

Whilst I’m sure it has good intentions there has to be a longer term solution out in now as obviously this service will grow over the forward years. With Canberra being the most expensive city to live in, hundreds of people each week finding themselves homeless as they join the long public housing wait list and families pushed to the brink because of this government’s desire to increase the cost of everything. It’s no surprise the government is not keen on this as it exposes how serious the social issues are in this town. They’d rather these issues be hidden from the public as they want to project the image of a vibrant, prosperous community to Chinese investors. This was what barr was showing off last week in China. None of the homeless issues, once middle income Aussies now pushed into destitution nor a health system that has failed after years of neglect. Certainly we can’t have poor people getting access to essential items without the government taking control?

Vagabonds camping in the front yard?
Operating outside our boundaries and the law?
Charities doing the best they can do ?
Hordes of people turning up making a nuisance of themselves?

I’d love to know what **** you guys are all on cos’ it must be some really head tripping stuff 😂

Paul and Margaret of Ngunnawal have set up an independent charity pantry in their front garden. They are operating independently and outside the law. This includes the ACT’s well established health and safety regulations. They also have an ignorant parliamentarian from the opposition dropping in, posting images on her Facebook page and telling them what a good job they are doing!
I don’t doubt the good intentions of Paul and Margaret. Doing good deeds but operating independently from the government and established laws and boundaries. Vinnies, the Salvos, St Vincent de Paul, the Smith Family, Street Law and government agencies doing their best to work together and within the laws to help those genuinely in need.
People take advantage of good Samaritans like Paul and Margaret. Just take a walk through Civic on a Friday night and see office workers taking advantage of the free food provided by Night Patrols and charity organisations to those who are homeless and doing it tough.
Let’s not forget Paul and Margaret’s neighbours. Putting up with the large numbers of cars, strangers and families turning up in their street seeking charity throughout the day and night. Those from all walks of life wanting something free and making nuisances of themselves.
Now Paul and Margaret are demanding that the government give them an exemption to keep operating this way!

The Ngunnawal street pantries are an integral part of the fabric of our local community. I am saddened to hear of neighbours in distress over Paul and Margaret’s front yard, they work so extremely hard to keep it organised, neat and tidy. They also regularly promote how and where to park to appease their neighbours and I know for me I do park in streets further away to alleviate the traffic. But for our small family this street pantry has become a weekly visit. It helps us obtain fresh fruit and vegetables, bread and milk, clothing and toys for our kids and the odd special treat from local bakeries. They also help local schools with breakfast club supplies free of charge, which helps schools assist their families in need. I really hope that government, private enterprise or someone philanthropically minded will help the Ngunnawal street pantries continue, maybe that’s by supplying a vacant shop front free of rent. Couple this with actually raising incomes across all industries, I know that my industry of marketing and events has not been increased in 12 years.

It’s beginning to look a lot like communism 🎶

I agree that it should not be in a narrow street. If you check the other pantry’s in the Suburb they are neat and tidy and in the confines of their property.

I am sure as hell glad that Paul and Margaret don’t live next door to me. I pity their neighbours. Paul and Margaret running a community pantry in their front yard with a marquee and garden shed to protect the mess and all those extra items spilling out onto their front garden that don’t fit into their garage. What a mess!
Not to mention all of those extra cars and people spilling into the street and their yard seeking charity!
I am all for those contributing to society and doing their bit for those in need. I also go above and beyond to do my bit. This is achieved by working closely with some of the government ’s social service directorates and independent charity organisations.
It also means working within established laws so that I don’t become a pest!