Market donations a “win-win” for farmers and charity

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

A NEW community initiative allowing people to donate fresh produce to a Toowoomba soup kitchen during their weekly markets shop has been hailed a significant “win-win”, boosting farmers’ profits and filling the charity’s pantry at the same time.

‘The Soup Box’ has been running through July and August at Toowoomba Farmers’ Market, collecting boxes of fruit and vegetables for The Basement Soup Kitchen, run by Base Services.

The project is the brainchild of Kat Lynn, a food photographer and member of Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce’s Food and Agri Network (FAN) advisory group.

Lynn told the Caller she came up with the idea after learning the soup kitchen had been broken into and lost precious supplies when a cold room had been accidentally left open earlier this year.

Several local businesses pitched in to organise a stall at the Toowoomba Farmers’ Markets, where shoppers could give what they could afford.

Lynn said she wanted to keep the charitable initiative simple and accessible to everyone.

“The community can gift whatever they choose – a box, a carrot – whatever they feel comfortable with, and then those boxes get taken back to Base Services to feed the vulnerable,” Lynn said.

“It’s been a wonderful win-win for everyone involved and we’re nearly up to 300 boxes – so hopefully this weekend we’ll hit 300.”

Toowoomba Farmers’ Market organiser Robyn Ayles said she wasn’t surprised by the response from customers, with many wanting The Soup Box to continue.

“We have a very generous community and very loyal customers at the markets who really have embraced this initiative,” Ayles said.

“The farmers have been some of the most supportive. A lot of them have donated quite considerable amounts of fruit and veggies to The Soup Box at the end of the market and they were very very happy to do that.”

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The Saturday morning markets have grown significantly in recent years, with an average of 120 stalls and a customer base which extends into the south sast and Brisbane.

“We have quite a number that will either come up weekly or fortnightly to get their groceries,” Ayles said. “We’ve got quite a following now which is fantastic.”

The Soup Box is aiming to fill another 42 boxes this weekend to reach its goal of 300.

Kat Lynn said the project had enabled the entire community to get involved, which was really important.

“Yes there are a lot of charity events in Toowoomba,” she said, “I’m not taking anything away from that – but the average person can’t afford to go to those types of things and provide that kind of support.

“If you can only afford a carrot, you are still making a change in someone’s life and that’s the whole premise.”

You can find The Soup Box stall at the Toowoomba Farmers’ Markets this Saturday August 26 from 7am – 12pm.