Keeping Baw Baw warm

Following on from its recent donation of a new commercial freezer to The Crossing Drop-in Centre, Drouin Rotary Club has continued to seek ways to support those giving support – recognising the extra demands falling upon these valuable community services in the current circumstances.

Led by Drouin Rotary, the Rotary (3) and Lions Clubs (7) within the Baw Baw Shire have joined forces to purchase warm clothing and blankets from local opportunity shops (at very generous rates) for donations to Longwarry District Food Bank and the Baw Baw Food Relief in Warragul for distribution at their discretion, in a project titled “Keeping Baw Baw Warm” – part of the Baw Baw Shire’s Relief and Recovery Committee’s efforts to assist those in need.

The Yarragon Lions Club also has been in discussions about what they might donate from their Yarragon “Lions on Mane” op shop.

Longwarry District Foodbank supports people across the wider district, not just within the township, and is currently supporting about 150 families a week with delivery of hampers where necessary, or alternatively, made available to people for pick-up at the Longwarry hall. Each hamper contains meat, fresh fruit, vegetables, canned and dry goods to support the family for a week, for which there is no charge for people in need.

The Foodbank is co-ordinated and staffed by the Longwarry Lions Club led by Debbie Brown, and also involves some community volunteers.

Debbie said that anyone wishing to support this project could call in at the Longwarry hall on Thursdays, while observing the required social distancing requirements.

Mrs Brown said that warm clothing was becoming available and she was keen to hear from anyone from anywhere who needed support in these difficult times, their complete anonymity being assured at all times.

She said the need to support district families was growing every week, and Foodbank is predicting that the need will have “exponential” growth by September because by then, the various measures put in place by governments to assist stressed people may have reduced or even ceased, while unemployment is expected to reach at least 10 per cent..

In another sign of active support, Rotarian Kevin Roberts accompanied by president-elect Russell Ford visited the Longwarry centre to drop in donations of pumpkins grown by Kevin, along with other canned and dry goods.

Kevin also visited the Warragul centre with two large pumpkins which he cut into 32 pieces of a size required for distribution in food hampers. Anne Pascoe, manager of Baw Baw Food Relief, a project of the local churches, said that the support received from local service clubs, was very much appreciated – mentioning particularly the financial support provided over the years by Drouin Rotary.