Where to get a $55 food box worth $200

There will be no waiting in the 'poor man's queue' when you collect a discount food box distributed by a new service starting in Stanthorpe next week.

HELPING HANDS: Granite Belt Drought Assist's Glenda Riley and Jenny Howard with Granite Belt Fruit Freighters' Rodney Abraham and Jonny Crunch popping up in the background. Picture: Matthew Purcell

THERE will be no waiting in the 'poor man's queue' when you collect a discount food box distributed by a new service starting in Stanthorpe next week.

Granite Belt Drought Assist secretary Glenda Riley knows what it's like to "do it tough” and says protecting the dignity of community members is central to the organisation's new Food Assistance Program.

"People have their pride, they don't want to ask for help,” she said.

"It can be very hard for them to say, 'we need help, we need food'.

"We're trying to this in a very dignified way - so people can email, they can ring me or they can contact us through our Facebook page.”

Community members can collect their orders - boxes of food worth up to $200 from the Stanthorpe Showgrounds on Wednesdays, beginning April 10.

The contents will change every week, but you can expect to see eggs, tinned foods, tinned fruit, pasta, some treats, juice, biscuits and instant meals in the $35 Pantry Box.

The $55 Chilled Box also includes a selection of instant meals, frozen veggies, lasagna and other frozen items.

"This assistance is available to anyone who is finding it difficult to make the weekly food budget stretch that bit further,” Ms Riley said.

"If you've got a $300 a week budget for a family...they'll still have that $250 to buy other things.

"Everyone is welcome to participate, and we encourage residents to tell their neighbours and friends that this service is now available.”

Local business Granite Belt Fruit Freighters will be collecting the goods from Brisbane for the program, and Stanthorpe Agricultural Society has donated its showground facilities.

Ms Riley said a survey will be in the boxes for the first few weeks, so organisers can adjust and add items depending on peoples' needs.

How to order

To place an order email [e-mail], phone [phone] or message the Facebook page Granite Belt Drought Assist.

Orders need to made by Monday, April 8 at 12noon for the first delivery on April 10.

How to pay

Payment for the first order needs to be made at Stanthorpe's Bendigo Bank branch, but following orders can be made electronically using the registration number you'll be issued after the first food collection.

Where to collect

Boxes can be collected at the eastern entrance of the Showgrounds exhibition building on Wednesday, April 10, 1-5pm.