‘People are struggling’: Kings Park food relief charity busier than ever in trying times
Each week, food relief charity Hands and Feet ensures hundreds of people across Sydney aren’t going hungry. In tough times, they say demand for the service is higher than ever.
Blacktown
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blacktown. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Devastated: Glenwood trade school closure shocks students, parents
- ‘To be hugged and loved’: Therapy dolls made in Lalor Park help with mental illness, trauma recovery
From Blacktown to Balmain to Blaxland, food relief service Hands and Feet helps hundreds of people doing it tough put food on the table.
Out of a modest warehouse in Kings Park, every day, up to 15 volunteers deliver food hampers to churches across most of Sydney for those tackling homelessness, unemployment or illness.
The service is a lifeline for the region’s most disadvantaged, with hampers of fresh fruit and vegetables, bread and dairy a luxury for anyone living in poverty.
Relying heavily on donations and grants, the service has partnered up with Food Bank, Secondbite and Oz Harvest to source surplus stock from the major supermarkets.
Community Care coordinator Titilia Brown has seen demand for the service skyrocket in recent years — a trend she puts down to rising living costs.
“In the last two years it’s greatly increased,” Ms Brown said.
“There’s a lot of people in transition waiting for homes or who are camping out with family and friends, or couch-stayers waiting for a place or waiting for their situation to change.
“There’s the single-parent families, those trying to make ends meet and refugees — they are the ones we help out in the community.
“The need has increased because the cost of living has gone up.
“People are finding it really tough to pay for rent and bills and cost of living is one of the biggest reasons people are struggling as they are.”
In addition to food hampers, the service also runs a city care service each Friday, delivering food packs and clothing to people living on the street around the Sydney CBD.
Up to 350 packs are delivered any given Friday.
Working on the frontline of crisis care, Ms Brown said shocking stories of disadvantage were all too common.
“We had a lady who used to go to McDonald's when they’d close and go through the bins looking for food,” Ms Brown said.
“She and her husband were sick and not able to survive after the Medicare bills.
“Until Hands and Feet, they were eating out of the bins at McDonald’s.
“We hear stories like that all the time of people just trying to get by.”
She said the service fulfilled a need for anyone seeking support without being questioned.
“There was a lady who would come to get food and would fear someone would follow her because she’d never had that before where she could go to a place with no strings attached and just get something to eat, Ms Brown said.
Pastor Ariel Cinco, whose Kings Park Community Church distributes food hampers, said up 45 people sought support every week.
“Most of them are elderly and sick. A few are recent migrants from Sudan. Others have difficulty finding work due to illness or are struggling with medical bills,” Mr Cinco said.
He said the service was about providing much more than food.
“We love engaging with the people, trying to connect with them and finding what their needs are and how we can help them,” he said.
“It’s a social event too and not just about the food.
“When you ask them how they are, they’ll answer ‘I’m good’, followed by some stories about what’s happened that week.
“If they have problems, if they’re happy, they’ll share them with us in a meaningful way.”
To get involved with Hands and Feet, visit the website.
NEWSLOCAL LAUNCHES FEED NEW SOUTH WALES APPEAL
NewsLocal is launching the Feed New South Wales Appeal, part of a national Feed Appeal fundraiser across News Corp Australia’s publications this month.
Just 50c donated to the appeal can provide a meal for someone in need.
Feed Appeal chief executive Katherine Gokavi-Whaley said all of the donations will go to food banks, soup kitchens and community meals programs helping people in your neighbourhood.
News Corp Australia community ambassador Penny Fowler said she was thrilled the company’s newspapers and magazines were getting behind this important cause.
“The Feed Appeal will help everyday Australian families who rely on food charities in their local community,” Ms Fowler said.
“I encourage you to donate to this worthy cause.”
The appeal started in Victoria in 2008 and has since raised more than $5 million. This year the appeal is going national for the first time.
The Feed New South Wales Appeal is in collaboration with NewsLocal and FareShare and powered by Newman’s Own Foundation.
APPLY FOR A GRANT
Food relief charities can apply for Feed New South Wales Appeal grants of up to $50,000 to boost their capacity.
There are three types of grants up for grabs:
Major projects — a maximum of $50,000 for big items such as vans, forklifts and cool rooms.
Grassroots grants — up to $25,000 for kitchen equipment such as fridges, freezers and ovens. A maximum of $10,000 from this grant may be used to purchase food.
Rural grants — grants of up to $50,000 for charities in regional areas, which can use the grants for major projects items, kitchen equipment or food.
See more information at the Feed Appeal website.