A major food rescue expansion is making a difference for local families, with a new SecondBite warehouse in Kewdale helping charities like HCD Streetwise in Kenwick reach more people in need.
Since becoming operational in late July, the 2,000sqm facility has enabled a 30 percent increase in food volumes across Perth’s southeast, according to SecondBite WA State Manager Lyndon Nilsson.
Mr Nilsson said demand for food relief had surged, with charity partners reporting new waves of people seeking help for the first time.
“SecondBite agency partners are reporting new waves of people accessing their services that have never had to seek food relief before,” he said.
He said while the new facility had expanded capacity, access to donation supplies and the cost of transporting food to regional areas remained key challenges.
“Transportation of donations to regional locations, especially more than three hours from Perth, involves third-party logistics which SecondBite does not have sustainable funding for,” he said.
The change has been immediate for Kenwick-based HCD Streetwise. Founder Shelley Hubon said direct weekly deliveries from SecondBite had made it faster and easier for her team of volunteers to provide hampers filled with fresh produce and pantry items to local families.
“The new larger SecondBite warehouse in Kewdale means we now get our food delivered direct to us every Friday morning,” Ms Hubon said.
“Before, we used to have to go and collect it which meant fuel costs and more volunteer time. We can get the hampers out much quicker now and, in the summer, it is going to have a huge impact because the fresh produce will last so much longer.”
She said the number of people needing food assistance had risen sharply this year.
“The housing crisis is meaning people must choose between paying rent and buying food. The reality is that by being able to provide the food hampers for these people in need, they can budget to pay their rent or bills — that’s the difference it is making.”
HCD Streetwise, which provides food hampers to residents from Cannington through to Armadale, also received a heartfelt note from a local child thanking the charity for helping their family during a difficult time.
