Sarina cafe Roots Collective fights homelessness, helps those struggling with free meals

A Mackay region cafe run by three siblings, supplied with locally grown produce is giving back to the community with a free meal program.

Sarina cafe Roots Collective brings the community together through a meal ticket give back program.

One Mackay region family business is looking to make a difference in the cost-of-living and homelessness crisis by offering free meals to the community.

The Roots Collective has become one of Sarina’s iconic cafes since its opening in 2017 and expansion in 2023.

Owned and operated by by siblings Skye Bailey, Wes Bailey and Jana Temple nee Bailey, Roots Collective offers dine in eating for breakfast and lunch, and hosts community events.

Inspired by Mackay organisations like Chances, Roots lets customers buy meal tickets for vulnerable community members. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Driven by a desire to do more for the vulnerable of Sarina and inspired by a post on social media, Skye implemented the Community Give Back Program where Roots offers free meal tickets for “(those) struggling to afford a meal at the moment”.

The program was an instant success and soon customers were asking staff if they could also buy meal tickets to help out.

May Brigg joined the Roots' family three years ago and has since become one of their top managers. Photo: Fergus Gregg

May Brigg, a Roots Collective manager and staff member of more than three years, said the community ended up buying so many tickets they exceeded demand.

“To be honest not as many people claimed the tickets as we thought,” Mrs Brigg said.

“I think there’s a little bit of a shame aspect to it.”

Siblings Wesley and Skye Bailey and Jana Temple (nee Bailey) brought the Roots Collective to life as the fruit of decades of work in customer service and hospitality. Picture: supplied

Undeterred, Ms Bailey instead took the free meals to the Food Bank run out of New Life church.

“Our goal at roots, our goal as a family, is to create a safe place for everybody, not just specific members of the community,” Ms Bailey said.

According to Ms Bailey at least 15 individuals claim meal tickets each week.

“It’s just something to help out those who are struggling,” she said.
Mrs Brigg attributes the outpouring of community support for the program to Roots Collective’s atmosphere and communal spirit.

“It lines up with our values of returning to the roots of nourishment, community and love,” she said.

“We want all people to come in and feel loved and that they’re getting really good food made entirely with local produce.”

Stephen and Tanya supply roots with fresh veggies from their farm up in the Sarina Range. Photo: Fergus Gregg

The cafe owners parents, Stephen and Tanya Bailey, are Sarina farmers who supply fresh produce to the restaurant.

“We’ve always done a lot together as a family,” Stephen Bailey said.
Apart from supplying fresh produce to the cafe, the two also joined with their children to help expand the Roots Collective in 2023 for four months.

“We love bringing people together,” Mr Bailey said.

“The kids picked up on that.”

You can support the Community Give Back Program at the Roots Collective by simply speaking with the staff.