Community members will soon have easier access to affordable food as a Foodbank truck makes a regular appearance in the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale.
The shire’s first Foodbank Referral Service was launched at the beginning of this year after collaboration between Foodbank and the Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Resource Centre (SJCRC).
From Monday, August 4 in the SJCRC car park, the Foodbank truck will be available for local members.
Previously, access to Foodbank required travel outside of the Shire with the closest Foodbank services in Pinjarra or Armadale, also with no Shire based referral services.
SJCRC coordinator Jane Lean said the Centre was proud to offer the vital services of Foodbank locally.
“We are reaching far into the community needs,” she said.
“Foodbank does not launch a new van delivery service lightly. There is a lot of logistics behind the scenes, and a lot of evidence-based research Foodbank does to ensure our region is in fact in dire need.
“Foodbank do “hunger mapping” as part of their research, and the SJ Shire was burning bright on that mapping.
“SJCRC being proactive and reaching out to Foodbank without even knowing this evidence but at the same time knowing the need was immense lined up beautiful with what their research was telling them.”
Ms Lean said becoming registered as a Foodbank partner was a process, but she was glad she could finally bring their services to locals who need it.
“Not just anyone can partner with Foodbank. You have to be a registered charity, meet their criteria and ensure you have enough opening days to accommodate foodbank referrals,” she said.
“You need the correct set up to accommodate the Foodbank van in the carpark with shelter for hot or rainy days for their stock.
“Families and individuals in the area will be able to shop for heavily discounted food including meat, vegetables, fruit and an array of other products.
“Foodbank is not just for those skipping meals or homeless. There are now two categories of homeless – those without a roof over their heads, and those with a roof over their heads.
“We have many in the Shire that cannot afford heating and cooling, cannot afford to go to the GP, cannot afford medication, cannot afford fuel for their cars and a host of other issues.”
With the support of discounted food items purchased locally from Foodbank, Ms Lean said community members struggling with their financial situation can spend their money where they need it most.
“When we reduce food costs we free up money for these members of the community to keep buying their medication, turn the heater on during winter, turn the air con on in summer, go to the GP, put fuel in their car to get to work,” Ms Lean said.
In addition to the upcoming Monday Foodbank support, people in the community faced with financial hardship can receive food hampers from Byford Baptist Church on Thursdays, with free warm meals on Friday nights and hampers upon request from Homelessness We Care.
