The Little Pantry - Emergency Food Relief

Woden Community Service has supported the Canberra community for more than 60 years, growing from a small local initiative into a trusted organisation responding to hardship across generations.

One way we do this is through The Little Pantry, our emergency food relief service based at Westfield Woden. The Little Pantry provides a vital safety net for people experiencing financial hardship and food insecurity, with zero barriers to access, so support can be accessed quickly and with dignity.

Each month, more than 110 people rely on The Little Pantry for essential food and toiletries, supporting over 1,320 households each year. As part of Woden Community Service’s broader network, we can connect people with services including tenancy support, children’s services, aged care, and family and youth support.

Food insecurity in Canberra is increasing, with families often choosing between rent and groceries. While demand continues to grow, limited cold storage means we cannot always provide fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, protein or ready-prepared meals. Expanding The Little Pantry would allow us to meet this need and better support Canberra households in crisis.