Penrith Top 20 local heroes: #1

We have counted down the top 20 most influential people in Penrith — people we believe have inspired the community simply by being who they are. Now it’s time to reveal the number 1 local hero. Did we get it right?

Penrith’s Top 20 Local Heroes

PENRITH LOCAL HEROES

Local heroes: 20 to16

Local heroes: 15 to 11

Local heroes: 10 to 6

Local heroes: 5 to 2

While there is countless people in Penrith who make the lives of those around them that much better we wanted to acknowledge the top 20.

We believe we have hit the mark when it comes to the most inspirational people from the are, those who champion causes, who dedicate time or money to acts of good will, who have pushed boundaries and inspire others to do the same. But we do have to pick one winner and it is …

1: LANA BORG — MAMA LANA’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Lana Borg runs Mama Lana's. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Lana Borg Mama Lana’s Community Foundation based in is a not-for-profit organisation run by husband wife team Lana and Roger Borg.

The organisation delivers home cooked meals to the homeless and less fortunate in the community six nights a week.

It also offers food packs, footpath library, toiletries, free clothing shop, emergency groceries, blankets, bedding, clothing and furniture.

Lana and husband Roger pictured with some volunteers and patrons in Penrith. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Of course the organisation is held together by a large team of volunteers who strongly believe in its work.

The Borg’s founded Mama Lana’s in October of 2013 and it has been nominated for several awards in the time since.

In 2015, Mama Lana’s held a special music festival called Fake It ‘Til You Make It which featured tribute artists performing songs from the likes of AC/DC, David Bowie, The Beatles, Linda Ronstadt and Deep Purple.

Penrith state Liberal MP Stuart Ayres today gave Mama Lana's Community Foundation a grant of $20,130 through the NSW Government's Community Building Partnership program. They will spend the money on a walk-in cool room freezer in their home, to store food they prepare for Penrith's homeless and needy.

It was a charity festival was to help raise money for a permanent premises to store all the donated goods the charity receives.

The charity recently teamed up with the Creative Fringe to solve two problems at once.

By weaving plastic bags into sleeping matts for the homeless to used on the streets, they found a long term use for plastic bags and provided some much needed comfort to street sleepers.

The Creative fringe made and donated blankets and plastic sleeping mats made from plastic yarn to homelessness charity Mama Lana’s Community Foundation and the Haven WomenÕs shelter. Picture: Angelo Velardo

We believe Mrs Borg has changed the odds stacked against the homeless and less fortunate in Penrith by tirelessly working to help them but to raise funds to ensure Mama Lana’s not only remains but grows.

She is a true example of what inspiration and being a local hero is all about.

We want to hear from you. Did we get our Top 20 local heroes right?

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