‘BPA Hope Pantry’ Acts as a Catalyst for Spreading Sharing Culture in Over 10 Locations

Opened 11 Branches in 5 Months

Donations of Goods Worth 45 Million Won Continue

'BPA Hope Pantry,' which serves as a stepping stone for spreading a culture of sharing among local residents, has surpassed 10 locations just five months after the project began.

Opening Ceremony of BPA Hope Store No. 10.

Busan Port Authority (BPA) opened the 10th BPA Hope Pantry on the 11th at the Sinpyeong Sarangchae Senior Welfare Center in Saha-gu, followed by the opening ceremony of the 11th location on the 12th at the Busanjin-gu Food Market in Busanjin-gu.

The 10th location is the second Hope Pantry installed in Saha-gu. It operates every Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., primarily serving vulnerable groups in welfare blind spots who need care, such as welfare center users.

The 11th location, the first to be installed in Busanjin-gu, operates Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The main users are those selected by the district to use the food market.

BPA Hope Pantry is a sharing refrigerator installed in collaboration with local welfare centers near the port, administrative welfare centers, and others, supported by the Public Coexistence Solidarity Fund budget to provide sustainable welfare services by Busan Port Authority.

Since opening the first location on April 13 at the Dongsam Comprehensive Social Welfare Center in Yeongdo-gu, a total of 11 locations have been installed across six autonomous districts: Yeongdo-gu, Saha-gu, Jung-gu, Nam-gu, Sasang-gu, and Busanjin-gu.

The total number of uses has exceeded 2,000, and the donated items, when converted into monetary value, amount to approximately 45 million KRW, playing a significant role in spreading a culture of sharing within the local community.

BPA plans to invite the 'Pantry Keepers,' including those responsible for operating the Hope Pantries, to Busan Port on the 14th to share operational know-how and strengthen networking through meetings of practitioners to support the activation of the Hope Pantries.

Kang Jun-seok, President of BPA, said, “BPA Hope Pantry has been well established in the local communities near the port and has received favorable reviews from users, enabling us to open up to the 11th location. We will continue to strive to ensure that the Hope Pantry plays a central role in revitalizing the community.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.