AROUND 50 Limestone Coast residents have benefited from a statewide charity drive which is donating food and essential items to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A significant driver of the community support program in the Limestone Coast has been the Anglican Church of Mount Gambier parish priest Father Neil Fernando.
Fr Fernando and fellow Anglican Church members have partnered with We Care and AnglicareSA to deliver essential items to people in need across South Australia The food drive was launched when the pandemic’s impacts started to be felt in South Australia and Fr Fernando said anything from bed sheets to baked beans was still required.
“Food drive delivers food and essential items to international students and others in the community who have been affected by COVID-19,” he said.
“We also hand out food vouchers, rations and nonperishable items to people in the community during the lockdown.
“We are prepared to help anyone in need.”
The food drive has not just provided relief to Limestone Coast community members, but also stranded international students in Adelaide.
Fr Fernando said there was an urgent need to support the struggling students.
“There is a bigger need for the international students because their own countries are locked down and their parents are unable to support them financially around South Australia,” he said.
“I looked after three Sri Lankans in my home for five months and there is still somebody there.
“They need a helping hand.”
After looking after around 50 Limestone Coast members, Fr Fernando is calling out for the community to support the scheme with at least 300 Adelaide students in need of assistance.
“I want to join hands with the community to look after the needy, whether they are international students or regular members of the area,” he said.
Reaching out to businesses and other members of the church community has already yielded support.
“People in the community are already distributing for the worthy cause,” he said.
“I have also invited all of the other churches and supermarkets around the Limestone Coast to take part.
“Major supermarkets have supplied boxes to collect donations for the cause, while people have given me food vouchers which I have distributed around the community to the needy.”
Fr Fernando said the challenges experienced by some people as a result of the pandemic had inspired him to help.
“I always believe if you make the first ripple, it goes a long way,” he said.
“We are a blessed country, so we cannot let people go hungry.
“The primary duty of human beings is to look after one another.”
The Anglican Church is open to collect donations between 10am and 12pm each day, while major supermarkets also have supply boxes available until Friday, July 31 before the supplies are delivered to people in need.
People wishing to donate can also contact Fr Fernando at 0478 085 894.
