IN times of need it is important for people to band together and that can be seen clearly in the coastal community of Robe.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic former Robe Football Club president John Fenton has launched a food bank project.
He – and a group of dedicated volunteers – have donated their time to form the Robe Football and Netball Club Community Food Hub, to provide boxes of free produce to members of the community.
“It is something I am pretty passionate about – the town,” John Fenton said.
“I sort of saw a bit of an opening for it.
“Back in January the town got on board with council and we raised over $25,000 for the Kangaroo Island fires.
“I thought with what’s going on now, if we could do that, we could have a crack at this.”
The response from the small coastal town was instant and it was not long before the food bank had enough support to not only lift the project off the ground, but ensure the service will be available for as long as required.
“Within a week people had donated like $10,000, so we were cashed up from day one, which is amazing really,” Fenton said.
“Grant Schubert, who is the real estate guru here for Elders, we got him on board early because he knows every farmer in the South East.
“He was keen to do something to help and he did a ring around and we’re getting about half a dozen sheep donated every week.
“They go to the butchers in Kingston, they get cut up and brought back to us and they get here around Friday morning.
“We bag it up so we have fresh chops and fresh roasts ready to go Friday afternoon.”
Fenton said the community food hub has enough funds and produce to keep the service going for at least another 12 months, which is a comforting sign during these uncertain times.
With the majority of produce sourced locally and donated to the cause, the costs of each box is minimal.
“I think the box is worked out about $70 worth of produce in them roughly and it cost us $2 a box (in the first week),” he said.
“Apart from a few out of season veggies we buy, everything else is donated – it is a real community effort.”
The food boxes are free and can be picked up from the football club on Fridays, with Fenton encouraging everyone in the community to feel welcome.
“What we have really aimed at and tried to target – and people are starting to come on board with it – is you do not have to be homeless to get one,” he said.
“It is more about a community thing and I do not want that stigma of thinking it is charity – it is a community hub really and that is what we want it to be.
“It is just about easing the pressure off everyone, that is the plan.”
Fenton said everyone affected by the pandemic in some way are welcome to the service and he encourages the community to treat the food hub like the football club canteen on a Saturday afternoon, just minus the cost factor.
Among those involved behind the scenes are members of the football and netball club, along with a list of other locals who eagerly put up their hands to help out.
“Jaryd Dawson is on board – he is a former (Robe football) captain – he has moved back to Robe and is playing again this year,” Fenton said.
“And Richy White is a retired farmer in Robe – between the three of us we sort of cover the whole spectrum of age groups.
“Jaryd got together when we first decided to do it and grabbed half a dozen footballers and they headed out to one of the spud farms down the road and picked a trailer load of onions and spuds.
“So many people in Robe want to volunteer and help out, so it has been a flood of volunteers, there are too many to count.”
Packing of the boxes takes place every Friday afternoon, with the club open from 4pm for pickups.
This Friday will be the third week of the service and Fenton said in the first week around 50 boxes were distributed.
He expects that number to grow over time.
“We also have some drivers who have put their hands up to deliver meals and the school has come on board and the kindergarten – they help with deliveries and help target the families they think might need a box,” Fenton said.
“Then other people can just wander into the footy club, grab a box and say g’day.
“I think we did 50-odd in the first week – whatever the need is we’ll meet it.”
