The Community Exchange Kitchen

The Community Exchange (TCE) in Altona serves as a hub to connect people to a network of community events and services that support living and thriving in Altona and the surrounding area. TCE shrinks the gap between people living on the margins and those who are more comfortably resourced by building relationships and fostering meaningful connections, ultimately creating a safer and more connected community. They are guided by four core values: curiosity, belonging, connection, and collaboration.

In 2025, TCE’s kitchen provided 4,000+ free meals through programs, drop-in support, food rescue, and cooking groups. As cost-of-living pressures rise, demand for food-centred programming continues to grow, but the current kitchen limits their response. Funding from Spruce Up Your Story would create a more welcoming and inclusive space for shared cooking, skills development, and food distribution, which would strengthen community connection, wellbeing, and support for people in Altona.

The community wants to renovate the entire kitchen with new equipment and to have more space. The current kitchen lacks capacity, storage, and updated equipment to safely meet program needs.