UNITED Way Glenelg’s project to help feed the community has an additional $800 to add to the grocery money, thanks to Glenelg Shire Council’s staff social club.

The social club - an initiative of council employees - donated $800 to local United Way’s Little FREE Pantry initiative, supporting vulnerable members in the community.

The Little FREE pantries are serving families and individuals who are struggling to put food on the table.

Located on the perimeter of schools and kindergartens, they are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week providing valuable support for residents.

Schools hosting the pantries include Casterton Primary, Heywood Consolidated, Portland South Primary and Elsa MacLeod Kindergarten.

The social club donation will be used to purchase more than $800 of nutritiously dense foods for the FREE Pantry project, with the assistance of SEAChange, to be placed on the pantry shelves across the Glenelg Shire.

“As a committee, we wanted to ensure this donation went to local families who are most in need, which is why we chose United Way Glenelg’s Little FREE Pantry,” social club president, Ricky Luke said,

“Our social club committee has a long and proud history of supporting local charities and causes and a number of our staff are workplace givers and regularly donate a portion of their salary.

“We look forward to continuing to partner with local not-for-profit organisations like United Way Glenelg to help give back to our community.”

Local welfare groups have seen a dramatic increase in the demand for food, unable to keep up with requests.

United Way Glenelg executive officer, Nicole Carr said the rising cost of living, energy costs and interest rate hikes were not only impacting the people the organisation would normally be helping, but those who were earning enough to just make ends meet.

“These struggling households are forced to make impossible choices each day,” she said.

"Sadly, financial security is becoming an unobtainable dream for many.

“Accessing food from the pantry can be a way to get a little support without filling in forms, questions, registering and no judgement.”

The Little FREE Pantry is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and another three pantries will be installed in the Glenelg Shire in the coming months.