Free market to fill pantries of needy
THE generosity of the Gold Coast community has come to the fore with a Queensland first ‘Free Supermarket’ being built at Mermaid Beach to help locals in need.
Gold Coast charity Serving Our People (SOP) is transforming its headquarters into a modern community hub, complete with the free supermarket concept, where people can collect donated, essential non-perishable groceries.
Charity founder Yas Matbouly said after serving the Gold Coast, Logan, Brisbane, and NSW Northern Rivers regions through the past two years of crises, it was clear how many families were struggling to “make ends meet”.
“We believe that vulnerable people, when they’re vulnerable, they need help. They can’t wait for it,” he said, especially when they’re hungry.
“A lot of families can’t make ends meet but don’t qualify for anything. The kids haven’t eaten for a couple of days.”
Some parents, Mr Matbouly said, are making the choice to “feed their kids over getting treatment”.
A lot of families can’t make ends meet but don’t qualify for anything. The kids haven’t eaten for a couple of days. CHARITY FOUNDER YAS MATBOULY
“So it’s been quite sad.” But the supermarket, slated to open in time for Christmas, is hoped to ease their hunger pains.
Non-perishable goods are already being collected from donation boxes stationed in leading supermarkets across the Gold Coast. Each box is used to stock the shelves of SOP’S “pop-up supermarket” or fill “bags of love” to deliver to those who cannot shop in-person.
Mr Matbouly says SOP volunteers are collecting full boxes every week.
“Each box feeds 40 families when it’s full,” he said. “So imagine that, it’s around 2000 families a year, each box.”
Gold Coast woman Cheryl Hill knows first-hand just how important SOP’S work is, after she landed in a crisis centre when her world “crashed and burned”.
“Without the services of SOP we’d be buggered, really,” Ms Hill said. “It was vital.”
“They we so wonderful and in the turmoil of having to get out (of crisis) and feeling completely ill-prepared, it was like having a big brother there.”
For two years after her husband died, Ms Hill continued to operate their house-sitting business until she busted a hip and couldn’t walk.
She was in a crisis centre for a year, but was “completely unprepared” when she was offered a place in government housing.
“If you’ve been in a crisis centre for however long you’re busy coping with the life of the crisis centre,” Ms Hill said. “I never got around to thinking about if I get this house.”
But SOP stepped in to set Ms Hill up with the household essentials: a bed, fridge, chairs and table, a TV. And one month later, she has a roof over her head and is out of crisis.
She said the supermarket will do wonders to help those struggling with the biting cost of living crisis, and remove the “embarrassment” of needing help.
“It’s not about expecting or preparing for crisis. A lot of the people are impacted (by the economy) and it’s not their fault,” she said.
“The embarrassment and shame of crisis is gut-wrenching and they (SOP) removed that.”
Mr Matbouly said more than those who need it, the shop is giving the everybody a chance to “make the community better”.
“It’s not a complicated thing, everybody can do their part,” he said.
“Australians are very compassionate, we’re a very charitable country and everybody puts in efforts in the smallest ways, which makes all the difference.”
Indeed, the supermarket has taken a whole community effort, with an army of tradies and local businesses donating their time and resources – estimated to be worth around $500,000 – to the construction and fit-out.
When completed the site will have a half-size basketball court, electric bicycles, and a space for community activities and fundraising events.
The upgraded SOP Gold coast site will act as its national HQ, with plans to expand into Brisbane and Lismore.