Member feature written by Meg Baresic
At the far end of the room, white tables are stacked high with boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables. Another long table lines the building’s side wall, loaves of fresh bread filling the table as the warm morning light trickles in. Chit chat and laughter fill the room, as do volunteers and staff preparing for Monday’s clients to visit and stock up on food. This is a Monday morning at The Pantry.
Established by community-based organisation Communify, The Pantry currently operates as Communify’s food relief service every Monday and Thursday morning in Bardon. Locals in need are encouraged to stop by, collect some food, and (most importantly) connect with others. “No one is turned away,” Mish tells me.
Mish has been working with Communify for twenty years and is responsible for the organisation’s volunteer engagement. Her commitment to Communify’s cause is palpable and her love for the work they do is clear. So, too, is it clear that Mish has built and maintained relationships with the volunteers that help at Communify. Perhaps it is this commitment to connection that has culminated in over 200 active volunteers giving their time each week to a worthy and notable cause.
Communify helps people from every walk of life, be it with respect to housing and homelessness, mental health, disability support, or aged care services. In the 2023/24 year, Communify supported 3,380 households and provided over 63,902 hours of aged care support. The organisation also provided 100 tonnes of food relief across their neighbourhood centres. Suffice to say, Communify’s Neighbourhood Centres and The Pantry provide a welcome relief from the difficulties encountered by many.
Ken is one of the first volunteers I am fortunate enough to meet during my visit to The Pantry, and his kindness immediately puts me at ease. Having volunteered with Communify for over eight years, Ken has seen and spoken to thousands of people who are, or have been, struggling. When I ask what his favourite part about volunteering is, he is quick to share his response. “I love meeting the clients every week and speaking to lots of different people.”
Another volunteer, Cynthia, echoes a similar sentiment. “I just love the people – both the clients and other volunteers. I feel really valued and supported.” With six years as a Communify volunteer under her belt, Cynthia is full of praise for the organisation. “Here, you get to try different things and find what works for you. It really opens your eyes to what people are going through.” When I ask her what advice she would give to anybody who is considering volunteering, she says, “Follow your interests and give it a go. It’s okay to try different volunteer places until you find something that works.”
A man who has been smiling at me since I walked in the door stands nearby as I finish chatting to Cynthia. I smile back and Mish introduces us. MC, I am told, used to be a civil engineer and currently volunteers four days a week with Communify. “I am just so satisfied here,” he tells me, his grin widening as he continues to talk. “My happiest days are when I get to come here. I get to mentor people, motivate them, and cheer them on. I am very proud of what we do.”
Communify’s ability to operate and run a successful community-based organisation is largely contingent on the work done by its volunteers. “We couldn’t do what we do without them,” Mish says. Volunteers can assist in a variety of roles, including transportation, food relief, administration, English citizenship testing preparation, social support for older people, and reception duties. Communify currently operates out of several locations, including Bardon, Paddington, New Farm, Kelvin Grove, and Acacia Ridge, with volunteers ensuring that people in need are met with compassion and care.
Ric and Paul are two of Communify’s volunteer drivers who are responsible for transporting people in and around Brisbane. Ric met Paul at a pre-election polling booth (“we were supporting different parties!” Ric tells me, laughing) and was quickly talked into volunteering with Communify. Paul has a knack for recruiting volunteers wherever he goes, be it the dog park or election booth, a skill which has earned him the fond title of ‘dog park recruiter’.
Both men praise the organisation and the fulfilment they get from volunteering with Communify. “Driving people around is something that I can do, and you get to chat to and help a lot of different people,” Ric says. Paul agrees, adding that “Once I retired, I realised I needed a sense of routine and something to show up for. I’ve learnt so much while volunteering here and it keeps my confidence up.”
Mish expands. “It is so much more than just driving people from A to B. There is also something about driving – there is no eye contact and it’s a less intense interaction. People are more willing to talk.” When it comes to advice that Ric and Paul would provide to people who are considering volunteering, both men agree on one thing. “You need to feel as though the organisation is well-run and suited to your interests and skills. It is so important that volunteers feel valued and supported.” Communify, it seems, has excelled in this respect.
As I drive home after my visit, I recall something Paul mentioned during our chat. “Sometimes, some of my friends seem confused or surprised when I tell them I volunteer and don’t get paid for the role that I do. The thing is, we do get paid. We are paid in spades, with gratitude.”
Communify is always looking for committed volunteers to fulfil a variety of roles within the organisation. In particular, Communify’s Acacia Ridge location is looking for volunteers to assist with reception duties, the English conversation and citizenship test preparation classes, and their food co-op (this would involve helping to sort, stack, and display food and assist clients). Head to their website to find out more about how you can get involved.
About Meg
Meg Baresic is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws and Journalism at QUT. When she’s not drinking coffee or catching up with friends, Meg loves chatting to and learning from inspiring and interesting people.
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