Networks & Friends - We’re not doing this by ourselves
The Free Store is aligned with a wide network of like minded organisations and groups. We know the work of reducing food waste and ensuring that the vulnerable in our communities nourished, is a massive task. Below are some of the organisations and groups we work alongside.
Renew Communities Trust
Renew Communities is an inclusive network of missions and ministries which have supported The Free Store since its beginning. We are a registered charity under the umbrella of Renew Communities Trust, reciving governance and structual support. The Free Store community is widened and strengthened by overlapping with the other parts of Renew Communities at events and gatherings throughout the year.
St Peter’s Church, Willis Street
In Oct 2014, St Peter’s gifted a carpark to The Free Store to be the location of our store. Over the last 5 years a beautiful, deepening partnership has been built between The Free Store and St. Peter’s. Our communities have become more interconnected and collaborative. In the spirit of manaakitanga, St Peter’s warmly provides space for The Free Store to operate and gather as community between 3-8pm Monday to Friday, including the use of their kitchen facilities, and the support of their staff. Through St Peter’s church whānau, we have been connected with many other community groups that also use their spaces, and we continue to collaborate with many of them.
DCM - Wellington
DCM (formerly known as Inner City Ministry and then Downtown Community Ministry) has been working in the city of Wellington since 1969 to “focus on the needs of, and to help empower, those marginalised in the city” (DCM Constitution). DCM has adopted the byline “together we can end homelessness in Wellington” which reflects our current focus on the needs of one key marginalised group – people experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of homelessness, supporting them on a journey towards sustainable housing and wellbeing.
AFRA - Aotearoa food rescue Alliance
AFRA was launched in March 2021 as part of the New Zealand Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact on food insecurity for New Zealand households. They support us with everything “food-rescue!” You can read more about them on their website.
EKTA NZ
EKTA is a not-for-profit community organisation who’s purpose is to contribute towards a more inclusive Aotearoa. After connecting through St Peters Church, EKTA noticed that The Free Store weren’t open in the weekends, so they began “DYA: An Ethnic Foodbank” on Saturdays running out of St Peters, to complement The Free Store, and provide access to food which is harder to find in most foodbanks.
Community Services | Non-Profit Organisation – Community Services (ekta.nz)
Roadworn nz
Roadworn create upcycled creations that come with a story, from the road. One-off items such as jewlery and belts are made from used bike parts, by people around Wellington, Roadworn have their workshop, and one of their pop-up shop fronts at St Peters church, where our communities overlap considerably. Roadworn are a wonderful place for people in our local neighbourhood to use or learn craftmanship skills, and receive financial reward for their efforts when they sell their pieces.
Neo cafe, willis Street
Neo are a local cafe just down the road from us, whos mission is to create special moments and build community. For us, they do exactly that. As well as being one of our weekly suppliers when they have surplus kai, Neo also partner with our volunteers to run a community meal once a month. Anyone who connects with The Free Store and hears about this monthly event are hosted by Neo’s generous staff, as we share a meal, chat, and play board games.
Everybody eats
“Everybody Eats is a pay-as-you-feel dining concept for everyone. We serve delicious, chef-prepared meals that feed bellies, not bins.”
We are delighted to communicate with The Free Store community each evening that there is a pay-as-you-feel style dining experience just down the road at Everybody eats, Dixon Street if they’d like to partake. We also have the pleasure of working with Everybody Eats as one of our weekly suppliers, receiving food support for our community feasts, and collaboratively hosting events together.
Everybody Eats | Pay-as-you-feel Community Restaurants reducing food…
Kaicycle
Urban farming and localised composting in the heart of Newtown, Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington. Kaicycle pick up our compost each week on their bikes, and we have the pleasure of connecting some keen-to-learn gardeners from our community with their volunteering oppertunities on the farm. Now and then we are blessed with surplus vege harvests!
Compassion Soup Kitchen
“We seek to provide support to people in need, which includes those who are marginalised through such things as mental health issues, addictions, homelessness and poverty. We also seek to provide support to people in need because of social isolation, limited social skills, limited education, and in times of crisis. We seek to provide services in a way that is respectful and honours the dignity of the individual and encourages growth and development. We seek to build community, celebrate the Soup Kitchen community and promote access to services, participation in the wider community and engagement in meaningful and productive activities.”
We are grateful to the Soup kitchen as one of our suppliers, and the collaboration we have on community feasts, and working together to respond to the needs we observe in our communities who gather for food.
Seeds to Feeds
‘Seeds to Feeds aims to harness the power of local food experiences to connect people - to each other, themselves, and their place. Through collective, supported action, communities become more resilient thanks to the nourishing practices of learning about, preparing and sharing local food.’ We love Seeds to Feeds , and collaborate with them Feeds regularly in community initiatives such as ‘Te Aro Eats’ during Cuba Dupa. We’re so grateful to work with this creative team, who will make a gourgeous soup for one of our community events at a drop of a hat!
BGI - Community Kitchen
‘BGI's Community Kitchen is a safe, fun space for fostering connection and resilience through food. The Community Kitchen team is dedicated to educating about how we can increase urban food security by minimising food waste. Their Community Garden, Te MĀRAmatanga, and regenerative orchard are just up the road too! These spaces enable us to connect back to the land and the ways in which we can sustainably cultivate it. ‘
We’re so grateful to use BGI’s kitchen regularly, to cook food for our community events. The team is so generous and supportive! We look forward to deepening our connection with Te MĀRAmatanga too. Thank you BGI!