The Aroha Free Pantry has been given a new lease of life while staying true to its original kaupapa of ‘take what you need, give what you can’.
Originally built by Rose Wallis, the community pantry has been rebuilt and renamed Pātaka Kai (storehouse for food).
It remains beside the Raglan iHub on Wainui Road, providing a place for people to share surplus food plus a small section has also been set aside for books.
Long-time supporter Jono Hutson, who helped Rose establish the pantry, has taken up the mantle, continuing the tradition of helping locals share the bounty from their gardens and pantries.
“We want to challenge the community to help keep it full,” Jono says. “If you notice it’s looking untidy, take a moment to pick up any rubbish. Help spread the word about what belongs in the Pātaka Kai, and if you can, bring something to share – even if it’s just a couple of silver beet leaves, some canned food, or a loaf of bread. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference.”
Jono also runs the weekly Community Kai plant-based meal every Monday at 5pm from the tiny shop, with pay-as-you-can koha helping build community food resilience and access to nourishing meals.
“Creating community food resilience is really important – getting people growing more gardens, sharing gardens, making use of surplus produce and planting extra to share with others. The Pātaka Kai is part of that.”
Jono also hopes to revive Raglan’s community fruit-harvesting network, which Rose established alongside the original pantry.
Working with orchard owners, local gardeners and property owners with an abundance of fruit, volunteers gather the excess to restock the Pātaka Kai, deliver to families in need, donate to the Surfside Foodbank and Feed the Kids project at Raglan Area School.
Due to ill health, Rose is now living in Hamilton, but Jono hopes others will step into the role she championed for so many years.
He’s looking for volunteers who can help harvest fruit, bottle, pickle and preserve produce, collect surplus food from supermarkets, and help keep the pantry tidy and well stocked.
“Rose was such a stalwart,” he says. “She kept the pantry tidy and well stocked, took home produce that might otherwise have gone to waste, trimmed off the good bits, and turned it into chutneys, jams and preserves. We’d love to see more people carrying on that spirit.”
To help with the Pātaka Kai or the Whāingaroa Community Fruit Harvest contact Jono on 021 488 766 or visit the Whāingaroa Community Fruit Harvest Facebook page.
Thanks to Michael Crawforth, Saras and Jono, Peter Haworth, Andy Fels, Lara Sweetman, Ngaronoa Renata, Matt and MaiLynn, Harty’s Raglan, Raglan Sign Company, Cycled Design Raglan and Raglan Naturally Community Trust for making the Pātaka Kai possible.
