Centre: Support is at hand

Horsham’s Christian Emergency Food Centre leaders want the community to know support is at hand to everyone in need throughout the pandemic.

Operations manager Jill Cramer said the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on businesses and workers would remain for some time.

“Here at Christian Emergency Food Centre we want our community to know that we are here for them – not just those on welfare and Centrelink benefits, but everyone who has been impacted,” she said.

“You do not need to have a concession card or had previous contact with the centre to get help.”

Mrs Cramer said often people chose not to seek help because they thought there were others worse off than them.

“They figure they better leave this type of help for them and maybe that’s the case, but we have plenty of food including fresh fruit and vegetables, pantry staples and bakery products to share,” she said.

“We have received extra government funding to make sure everyone who needs help is able to receive it.

“We fully understand that it’s very difficult to ask for help, especially if that’s never been the case before, but rather than dipping into your rent or bills accounts to pay for food, come to us.

“While we are not a supermarket, we do have quite a wide range of food available and every dollar you save on food now can go towards recovering from the economic strains put on everyone by the constant

interruptions to work and loss of wages.”

Mrs Cramer said Horsham Church of Christ had been contributing via a Mealbox program.

“This is a team of volunteers who meet once a month to prepare more than 100 healthy meals, donating them to Christian Emergency Food Centre for us to give out,” she said.

Mrs Cramer said the food centre remained open during COVID lockdowns.

She said clients could attend the centre – with masks – but if people preferred to make contact via phone they could call 5381 2311 or 5382 1326 between 1pm and 3.30pm on weekdays.

Christian Emergency Food Centre is at 28 Firebrace Street and all contact is confidential.

Food can be collected in a COVIDSAFE manner from the front or rear entrance.

“We fully understand that it’s very difficult to ask for help, especially if that’s never been the case before, but rather than dipping into your rent or bills accounts to pay for food, come to us” – Jill Cramer