Charities Join Forces to Feed Struggling South Australians For Christmas
A Baptist Care SA Food Hub volunteer assisting a customer. Credit: Baptist Care SA
19 December 2018 at 5:05 pm
With Christmas around the corner, Foodbank South Australia and Baptist Care South Australia have joined forces to open Adelaide’s first discounted food store, easing the stress of the holiday season.
The Food Hub officially opened its doors on 13 December, providing food and essential items to students, pensioners and people experiencing homelessness, and was developed following reports of skyrocketing food insecurity issues uncovered in a 2017 Baptist Care SA survey.
Baptist Care SA CEO, Graham Brown, said he had seen the growing problem while working closely in the community, and believed the opening of Adelaide’s first community food hub cold make a real difference.
“Across Adelaide there are a growing number of people who simply don’t know where their next meal is coming from. It’s a huge problem,” Brown said.
“The Baptist Care Community Food Hub will play a critical role in combating the growing prevalence of food insecurity across Adelaide.”
He said there were tens of thousands of people across the city who needed help putting food on the table, but felt uncomfortable about receiving handouts.
“This instead provides a dignified way for people in the city to access food for their families, giving people on low incomes and the homeless somewhere to go to purchase groceries at a significantly reduced cost.”
The issue of food insecurity is widespread and on the rise across the country, with the 2018 Foodbank Hunger Report revealing over 4 million Australians had experienced some form of food insecurity over the last 12 months.
Foodbank CEO Brianna Casey also said for those struggling to put food on the table, Christmas was a particularly tough time.
“This month alone, Foodbank will provide food relief for 710,000 people – 26 per cent of whom are under the age of 19,” Casey said.
The Community Food Hub will be managed by a Baptist Care SA staff members, and volunteers, who will source, supply and serve low-cost groceries to hundreds of people every week.
