Generosity extends into new year
Apre-christmas food-donation campaign will continue to support Wimmera families for at least another month.
Horsham’s Christian Emergency Food Centre received almost 380 contributions to a ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ campaign, which called for donations of non-perishable groceries, throughout the latter months of 2022.
The initiative complemented the centre’s existing distribution of Christmas food hampers.
It comes amid rising living costs, which are contributing to challenges for Wimmera residents and families.
The food centre’s client assessment manager Bev Miatke said the food centre helped, on average, about 15 people from across the region every day.
“Everything is going up, as we all know. We all go to the supermarket and see how prices are rising, but if you are on a fixed income – especially for those on a Centrelink payment – or a limited income, it’s getting tough,” she said.
“Rent is so high, mortgage costs are going up, and we’re finding people who have never needed to ask for help before are coming in and asking for help. Thanks to our amazing community, who have been so willing to offer their help through the Reverse Advent Calendar boxes, we have a lot to give away.
“We’ll still be giving out the boxes for another month or two.”
The initiative had support from Horsham churches, Christian Emergency Food Centre, Horsham Sports and Community Club, Caledonian Transport and 3WM, MIXX FM and The Weekly Advertiser.
The community club’s staff have ferried boxes from their venue to the food centre, and other storage points across Horsham; and Caledonian Transport continue to deliver donations to people across the region – within 24 hours of a call for assistance.
Community, workplaces and schools banded together to make donations; or families and individuals shared the shopping list among them. Some used the campaign as an education opportunity for younger people to learn social and economic lessons.
The campaign will return later this year.
“What’s in these boxes are the basic pantry staples that everyone needs and uses, and we add to that the perishable items like fruit and vegetables, meat and milk, bread and margarine,” Ms Miatke said. “The core of what people get is in these boxes and it means it saves us not only money, but also time and effort to source and pack items.”
The food centre is a critical cog of a well-established network of services that connect people to assistance.
They can also help people with other costs such as utility bills, medical prescriptions and transport to attend appointments.
Food donations come from the community. Food centre volunteers pickup items from supermarkets and bakeries daily.
“You never know who you walk past in the street, whether they’ve been a recipient of what you’ve collected, but it’s just great to know that all donations stay here in our region and maybe we’re helping those we live next-door to,” Ms Miatke said.
“Everyone has different struggles in different ways. Sometimes it’s shortterm and sometimes its longer-term – but the food centre is giving them a hand, whatever it is.”
About 70 people volunteer their time at the centre – some of them having volunteered throughout its entire 25year history.
Volunteer Anne Lane brings her work experience managing palliative care in the region to the food centre and has offered assistance there daily for about seven years.
“Part of it is because you’re helping someone else. I have a commitment to the service,” she said.
“I see it as a commitment to the community. I’m lucky I’m healthy, so I can do it.
“We are always happy to get more volunteers, who are fit and able.
“Some volunteers are in once a fortnight, some once a week and some of us are in every day doing something.”
People seeking assistance can phone the food centre, in Firebrace Street, on 5381 2311.