When Thornton resident Megan Elliott set up a neighbourhood food hub she had no idea it would support homes across Maitland and beyond.
The hub operates through Box Divvy, a modern take on a community co-op where neighbours order groceries online each week and collect them locally.
Ms Elliott, who has lived in Thornton for the past decade, launched the hub in 2022 after previously travelling 15 minutes to the nearest option in Maitland.
"There was nothing like it on our side of the highway, and people were travelling just to access it," Ms Elliott said.
"After a couple of weeks, I thought this is something I could do."
Within weeks of launching, it fielded inquiries from households across Thornton, Beresfield, Tarro and Ashtonfield.
Today, about 45 households collect their groceries each Thursday, with the hub now almost at capacity.
Members can choose exactly what they need, from fresh produce and meat to a growing range of pantry staples, with most products sourced from Australian suppliers.
By pooling orders, the model helps keep costs down while improving freshness and reducing packaging.
Ms Elliott acknowledged that the hub's appeal was both practical and personal.
"It made sense from a cost-of-living perspective, but also knowing you're supporting local farmers and getting real food, not just what's on supermarket shelves," she said.
Many members now rely on the hub as part of their weekly routine, with some setting up regular orders so they don't have to think about groceries each week.
"There's comfort in knowing you'll always have something fresh at home, as the produce lasts longer than supermarket produce," Ms Elliott said.
While convenience and affordability are key, Ms Elliott said the biggest impact has been the sense of community that has grown around the hub, including a weekly "kindness box" supporting locals doing it tough.
Each week members receive extras so they can contribute items to the kindness box plus additional items or household essentials, which are passed on to families in need.
"If someone in the Hub needs support, it stays local. Otherwise, it goes to the wider community," Ms Elliott said.
The kindness box has supported families through difficult times and is also shared with local organisations, including Mindaribba Aboriginal preschool and community outreach programs.
"It's something people don't have to do, but they want to. The Hub really pulls together when someone needs a bit of extra support."
The hub has also provided a small but meaningful source of additional income, helping offset rising grocery costs for her own household.
"It helps cover a lot of our fruit and vegetables each week, but more than that, it's something I genuinely enjoy doing," Ms Elliott said.
