Supporting families with top-up sessions

People doing it tough have access to free groceries through the Salvation Army's latest relief program.

FREE FOOD: Cat Barker, Julie Volkman and Janet Jordan. Picture: Matthew Purcell

PEOPLE doing it tough have access to free groceries through the Salvation Army's latest relief program.

The Stanthorpe, Allora and Warwick Salvation Army Family Stores have started weekly grocery top- up sessions where families and individuals can fill bags with free perishable food.

Warwick Salvation Army officer Lieutenant Zak Churchill started the program after he asked Coles for leftover bread, fruit and vegetables.

The top-ups started last week and averaged 15-20 people each day.

Store manager Robert Bennett said there was no restriction on who qualified for the free food.

"It is for anyone in need, people doing it tough, families, farmers, people who have lost their job or seasonal workers who don't have shifts at the moment,” he said.

He said demand for the service was growing.

"We pick the food up from Coles in the morning and it is usually gone by the end of the day,” Mr Bennett said

"People can grab whatever they need, we don't have a spoken limit on the amount people can take but most most people just come in with one or two bags.”

Stanthorpe's top-up sessions will be held each Tuesday.