charity in far west Victoria began swapping books for food to help people during COVID-19 lockdowns.

"When COVID hit, we realised that the greater need was for food, so we changed out the books and put food in," said Nicole Carr, chief executive of charity United Way Glenelg.

Ms Carr believes that locally, food insecurity has only become worse since the pandemic lockdowns, and the pantries are helping to feed people who might otherwise not have enough to eat.

"We know there is a need because in the first six months of this year, a full metric tonne of food was donated from Warrnambool Food Share and distributed across six pantries [and taken]," Ms Carr said. 

The pantries in towns throughout the Glenelg Shire are stocked with food donated by residents as well as the not-for-profit Warrnambool and District Food Share.

The little free pantries have the same cheerful appearance as the libraries. The hand-painted boxes, with a door that kids can open, share the same "little-library" ethos of community generosity and exchange.

Ms Carr said she was worried that people who were already struggling with rising living costs would find it hard to make ends meet with the impending holiday season.

"Many people are worried about how they will be able to afford to buy food and make nutritious meals," Ms Carr said.

"Some older people we meet are making the decision between eating and heating," she said. 

Ms Carr said food insecurity was a symptom of bigger policy and budget decisions. 

"The greater issues are that we need higher wages, we need more social housing, we need the investment … now so that we get the results in 12 months' time," she said.

"The feedback I get from schools is that a lot of children are coming to school hungry, because the general cost of living is becoming greater than what families are earning."

She said that primary school breakfast clubs are experiencing high demand. 

True hunger 'goes unreported':

Ms Carr believes the anonymity of the 'little free pantries" is providing a stopgap for people who feel too ashamed to register with an official welfare service, or suddenly find themselves in dire straits.

"It can help people who are just on that edge, you don't have to register, nobody needs to know," she said.

"There are families living on very low wages, living week to week, so if the electricity bill is $300 more than they anticipated, or the car needs to be repaired, then everything comes tumbling down.

"The situation is far more dire than we imagine. Anecdotally, there are families who can't afford to eat a meal. Some residents are managing by reducing their meal sizes, while others are going whole days without food. 

"That sort of thing goes unreported."

Give if you can, take if you need:

Ms Carr is inspired by the spirit of generosity that keeps the little free pantries full of delightful surprises.

"I'm always amazed when I go around and check on them each week ... the different items that are in there. People have been donating all sorts of things," she said.

"Around the Christmas period, we start to find things like Christmas cards or Christmas tarts.

"People really want to make sure that those who are struggling do get some of those nicer items that they wouldn't normally buy for themselves."

he spirit of generosity extends to how these pantries are constructed and decorated, with the Heywood Men's Shed donating their wood and expertise, while local artists donate their talents.

Ms Carr is offering to send the woodwork plans for constructing the little pantry boxes to any communities who wish to set one up.

More At | unitedwayglenelg.com.au

Original Story By | By Emily Bissland & Jeremy Lee