Famine & Feast AU is an independent community movement and free app helping Australians share, swap, and request food in their local area — no registration, no fees, no waitlist.
Joanne Lees, a small business founder from East Fremantle, Western Australia, built PantryShare AU and the Famine & Feast AU campaign after watching the cost-of-living crisis push food insecurity into suburbs no one expected — including her own.
"This isn't just a problem for people already in poverty," she says. "When fuel prices rise, everything in the supply chain gets more expensive. The families who were just managing are now the ones skipping meals."
The app — built with no budget and launched in April 2026 — lets anyone post food to share, list what they need, or browse listings by suburb. No account required. No questions asked. Completely free.
The campaign takes a bigger view: community resilience before the emergency hits. Whether it's a cyclone cutting off a regional town, floodwaters isolating families, global conflict disrupting supply chains, or simply a week where the money doesn't stretch — the answer is always the same. Know your neighbours. Share what you have. Ask for what you need.
PantryShare AU is live now at pantryshare.com.au. It works on any phone, requires no download, and is already being used across Western Australia.
The public-facing movement. Builds awareness around food insecurity and community resilience. Serves as the media and press hub. Targets regional communities, emergency-affected areas, and mainstream Australians experiencing cost-of-living pressure for the first time.
famineandfeast.com.auA free Progressive Web App (PWA) — no download required, works on any smartphone. Lets Australians post food to share or swap, browse listings by suburb or postcode, and post requests for food they need. Categories include pantry staples, fresh produce, dairy, bakery, prepared meals, baby & kids, pet food. Apple App Store launch planned.
pantryshare.com.auJoanne is a Western Australian entrepreneur and AI technology advocate. She founded PantryShare AU and Famine & Feast AU as a direct response to the cost-of-living and food security crisis facing everyday Australians. She is available for print, radio, television, and podcast interviews.
I had half a bag of rice and a tin of tomatoes left. I posted on PantryShare and a woman two streets away brought over groceries she'd stockpiled. I cried.
After the floods last year I realised I didn't even know my neighbours. Now we have a group chat and a shared pantry list. This app made that happen.
I was embarrassed to go to a food bank. This felt different — like texting a friend. I got what I needed and now I give back every week when I can.
Everything a journalist needs in one place. For additional statistics or spokespeople, contact hello@famineandfeast.com.au
The full story, key stats, founder bio, and app overview in a single page. Ready to paste into your story.
Request via email →High-resolution logos for Famine & Feast AU and PantryShare AU in PNG and SVG formats. Light and dark versions.
Request via email →Joanne Lees is available for print, radio, TV, and podcast. Based in East Fremantle, WA. Remote interviews welcome.
Book an interview →A short screen-recorded walkthrough of PantryShare AU showing how to post, browse, and request food by suburb.
Request via email →Real accounts from Australians using PantryShare AU. Available anonymised or with consent for named media use.
Request via email →Test PantryShare AU yourself — no login required. Browse live listings, post items, search by suburb.
Open PantryShare AU →Joanne responds to all media enquiries within 24 hours and is available for urgent turnarounds. Regional and community media especially welcome.
hello@famineandfeast.com.auPlease include your publication, deadline, and story angle in your first email.