Brisbane community pantry providing free food faces council complaint over kerbside setup

A neighbourhood pantry that provides free food to struggling families has been dobbed in to the Brisbane City Council for being on a public kerbside.

The Everton Park Community Pantry receives produce from grocers, bakeries, and farms — food that otherwise would have ended up in landfill.

Nelika McDonald and her husband James Paterson set up the pantry in 2024 outside their home on South Pine Road.

Brisbane City Council told 612 ABC it received four complaints from residents about "safety concerns" and restricted footpath access.

Ms McDonald said she received a visit from a council officer on Wednesday, telling her she was illegally "depositing articles" on council land.

The items include a cabinet of canned food, a table, a donation bin, and a shelter, which are permanently kept on the kerbside.

Ms McDonald said the volunteers made sure to keep the footpath itself clear so that pedestrians could walk through.

She said she was shocked to learn that she had been reported to the council.

"We were pretty upset about that because we've been operating for two years now and we don't see the harm in what we're doing," Ms McDonald said.

"The pantry is for people in need, which there's a lot of at the moment with the cost of living crisis."

Homeless and hungry

Cath Mulcahy said she started using the pantry two years ago, after becoming homeless and at the age of 66.

The now 68-year-old said she had been living in her car, and frequently could not afford to eat.

"I stumbled on this place one Sunday, and I opened the door and got a can of tuna and a can of beans, and I had lunch," she said.

"Otherwise I would not have had anything to eat.

Ms Mulcahy said she had made many friendships with the people who used the community pantry, many of whom were also homeless.

She said, increasingly, many of them were older women like herself.

A Brisbane City Council spokesperson said they were in ongoing discussions with Everton Park Community Pantry.

"We recognise the important support the Everton Park Community Pantry and its volunteers provide to people in the local community, and we want to see that valuable work continue," the spokesperson said.

"Our priority is keeping everyone safe, including the volunteers, people accessing the pantry, pedestrians and other road users.

"We are committed to working constructively with the Everton Park Community Pantry to find a practical way forward that supports its important work while addressing the safety concerns that have been raised."