Community spirit continues to support those in need

VOLUNTEERS ON BOARD: Sunset Community Kitchen volunteers Maxine Manet and Carol Chislett prepare some healthy meals for those in need.

Charlotte Varcoe

COMMUNITY spirit radiated through Sunset Community Kitchen this week as volunteers prepared a significant amount of meals for the region’s vulnerable residents.

Following the cancellation of last Wednesday’s regular meal night due to the statewide COVID-19 lockdown, volunteers banded together on Monday after receiving the green light to continue their work.

The charity organisation churns out over 750 meals per month for families and individuals in need, with many citing rising utility bills and the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions as causes of financial stress in recent months

Sunset Community Kitchen president Maree Thompson said volunteers regularly made extra meals throughout the winter period as families increased utility usage in an attempt to stay warm, noting an increase in people seeking support over the past six months compared to previous years.

“It is also because a lot of people are staying home more, working from home more or being in lockdown or isolation and because of that they have their heaters on for longer than they usually would,” Ms Thompson said.

“We have gotten quite a wide range of people coming through the doors here who do need assistance, whether it is people in jobs or families in need of that little bit extra assistance but everyone who does come through has been so grateful especially the children when we have special treats for them.”

Ms Thompson said despite the week-long lockdown, businesses remained generous with donations, allowing the volunteers to continue their work.

“Donations were a bit more difficult to come by than normal because a lot of businesses were shut but there were still those who generously donated despite the difficulties they have been through recently,” she said.

“We purchase our groceries from the FoodBank Hub here in Mount Gambier which has been absolutely amazing and other businesses just keep donating despite any difficulties they may be facing.”

She said this was not uncommon for Mount Gambier businesses and had continued to be a trend throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have also had a lot of people turning up with spare vegetables from their garden or fruits from their trees which has shown amazing community spirit,” Ms Thompson said.

ac.care homelessness and community services senior manager Trish Spark said the agency had reported an increasing number of people seeking assistance due to financial pressures from the increased costs of living, including utility prices over winter, but a lack of affordable housing was a core issue pushing people to the brink of homelessness.

“We are seeing an increasing number of people seeking assistance from our services due to a myriad of factors making their tenancies unsustainable, from rising costs of living through to steps up in rent,” Ms Spark said.

“We have diverse services available, including emergency relief and financial counselling, which can be crucial in helping people get through a crisis and plan for a better, more secure future.”

Those needing support are able to contact the agency on 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273).

Donations for Sunset Community Kitchen can be made by contacting Ms Thompson on 0418 807 428.