Langwarrin’s Local Hero Meet Hiromi Hampton

16 October 2022

It seems that Covid restrictions brought out the best in our community. It inspired some people to do random acts of kindness, to paint fences with kind words of hope and to reach out and help others in need. However, one resident took her passion for gardening and turned it into Langwarrin’s Free Pantry, serving our most vulnerable community members.

Hiromi always had a passion for gardening and during the lock down she found comfort in her vegetable garden. She expanded it from just her backyard and to her whole front yard! With a generous heart and so much fresh produce on her hands she started putting a box of excess vegetables and groceries in the front of her home for others to take for free. At first she noticed that people were taking what they needed and then she noticed that people where also donating their excess food to the box for others to take.

Hiromi was also inspired by her time in the America where she noticed it was common for residents to create community pantries… After careful consideration and with the support of her family, Hiromi decided expand her box, to a purpose built community pantry placed at the front of her home.

The idea is that anyone can take what they need and are encouraged to leave something in return. Hiromi was almost in tears as she explained how hard life is for some of our residents particularly for single parents and older residents on low incomes. People have been really grateful and it inspires her to continue because she see’s that this makes such a positive difference.,

Hiromi said, “its amazing, people are coming from the City of Frankston, Casey and we have even had people come from Clayton.” She said that she has learnt not to judge others, “you never know what people are going through and what their stories are”. So she give people privacy as people access the pantry.

On top of her paid employment Hiromi dedicates most of her spare time to helping others. She receives some donations from residents, the Pearcedale Produce Swap and Share Group and Langwarrin’s Brancatisano Grocer. All the donations go to helping strangers in need.

Recent statistics from the Austrian Council of Social Services indicates at in Australia, “one in eight people, including one in six children, live below the poverty line” (ACOSS 2022) So local responses like this make a huge difference. A year on now and Hiromi has noticed an increase in demand for food. Hiromi would love the support of locals businesses who would like to support her local initiative.

For more information please visit the Langwarrin’s Free Pantry Facebook page.