Red Cross helps feed FNQ families in need
A COVID-19 emergency food service is making sure vulnerable people don’t fall between the cracks of a system adapting to a changing community need.
Food insecurity among Cairns west residents resulting from the pandemic crisis has created a swell in demand for services provided by local Red Cross teams.
Unable to return home after the deceleration of a Cape York biosecurity zone, up to 10 people living under the one roof has the Red Cross helping struggling families to put food on the table
Former Geelong Cats AFL player Ronnie Burns heads up community service programs at Manoora and Mooroobool.
He said the team had been overwhelmed with calls for assistance from vulnerable families since the virus crisis forced the closure of community hubs.
“So we have had to adapt. We do have a partnership with OzHarvest, which was doing drop offs at the two community hubs for residents in that area,” he said.
“Due to COVID-19 with people losing jobs we have had all these referrals come in the Cairns west area and our numbers increased in volume.”
Mr Burns said OzHarvest sourced surplus food from Cairns restaurants and hotels and delivered it for redistribution by the Red Cross.
“Due to the restrictions, extended family members stay with other family members because of travel restrictions, which actually made food requirements (increase).
“In one household we probably had about eight to 10 family members in one house.
“I think some people stayed close by because of the hospital facilities. But the majority of that was because families could not get back to remote areas and people got stuck here.”
Currently Mr Burns said the Red Cross was helping feed up to 50 people a week along with delivering school packs and essential household supplies.
Growing up on Bathurst Island in the Tiwi Island group north of Darwin, Mr Burns said he felt a strong connection to communities in need.
“I love helping people in general and I like seeing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people getting what they deserve and what they need out there,” he said.