Church provides support for grieving Lalor Park community following fatal house fire

Crippled by the cost of living crisis and rocked a house fire that killed three children, a tight-knit western Sydney community has found a lifeline in a local church that is helping them heal.

A tight-knit western Sydney community, which was already struggling with the cost of living crisis before being rocked by a fatal house fire, is being supported by a local church with meals and financial support as they heal.

Dozens of Lalor Park locals and residents of wider western Sydney are travelling to St Clement’s Anglican Church for discounted grocery items and utility bill support.

It comes as the grieving community rallies together following the tragic death of three children aged five months, three and six years – old, in a house fire on July 7.

It is understood the children and family regularly attended the church’s daily Breakfast Club, where free breakfast is served before school, and interacted with the staff at “kid’s groups”.

The church, in partnership with Anglicare, is offering over 30 locals each fortnight a $12 shopping bag of grocery items as part of their Mobile Pantry Van, an initiative first introduced in March 2020.

The church – in partnership with Anglicare, is offering over 30 locals each fortnight a $12 shopping bag of grocery items as part of their Mobile Pantry Van, an initiative first introduced in March 2020. Picture: Richard Dobson

The service includes items such as cereals, milks, canned foods, tea, coffee, rice and pet food, worth around $50 and every second Wednesday the church also offers struggling community members one-on-one financial support and advice on managing their bills.

Church Senior Minister Mark Tough said the church had seen an increase in the number of people taking up the services.

Church Senior Minister Mark Tough said the church has seen an increase in the number of people taking up the services. Picture: Richard Dobson

The service includes items such as cereals, milks, canned foods, tea, coffee, rice and pet food, worth around $50 and every second Wednesday the church also offers struggling community members one-on-one financial support and advice on managing their bills. Picture: Richard Dobson

“With the cost of living crisis, as it’s gone up we’ve seen more and more people using the service,” he told The Telegraph.

“There’s lots of really good things about the community, I love the community (but) all communities have their issues, drugs, alcohol, mental health.

“We have people in a place where they don’t need free stuff but they need a helping hand.”

Single mother of three Peach Ross travelled to the church on Wednesday with her children from St Mary’s. Picture: Richard Dobson

Single mother of three Peach Ross travelled to the church on Wednesday with her children from St Mary’s.

“It helps financially. We get the groceries, food, snacks, canned goods and bread,” she said.

“I’m a single mother. It makes me happy I guess.”

The church is also offering free counselling and talking to people who are struggling, particularly following the fatal house fire.

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