Charlotte Varcoe
NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisations in Mount Gambier are servicing more and more people in need.
Mount Gambier’s Sunset Kitchen as well as the Salvation Army Thrift Shop have both seen an increase in people coming to its services for free food.
Sunset Kitchen president Maree Thompson said at the moment Monday nights were generally busier than Wednesday nights.
Last Monday volunteers served 65 people in need of a hot meal, more than in previous months.
Ms Thompson said the increase in people needing assistance had risen since Christmas time as support services also referred those in need to the Frew Park facility.
“We are getting a lot more young people who seem to be passing through and obviously are being sent by support agencies to us,” Ms Thompson said.
“This means they are taking their meal and sitting outside at the tables because they obviously don’t have accommodation.
“It is also concerning for anyone who is in any sort of a position like this because it isn’t a good situation.”
Ms Thompson said the reasoning behind the increase includes the current cost of living and more people on the streets.
“We are now trying to get our teams to make a minimum of 70 meals at a time so we are prepared but that also travels down the line because we get donations and food from FoodBank as well who are also struggling,” she said.
Also observing an increase in people needing food relief was Salvation Army Thrift Shop manager Shauna Wood.
After volunteering at Sunset Kitchen last year, thrift shop volunteers decided to also provide food relief on Friday nights to further help.
Volunteers cook a sausage sizzle for those in attendance on Friday nights and give out a bag of food.
Ms Wood said the charity also had an influx of people needing food relief with volunteers servicing between 35 and 45 people per week.
“We are starting to get a lot of people coming to us for help,” Ms Wood said.
“There are people from all different ages and we are seeing families, single people, couples and just people who are passing through Mount Gambier looking for a place to stay.
“There are also lots of people with school age children just trying to make ends meet.”
She said it was concerning having so many people needing assistance and doing it tough, but volunteers would continue to do their best to alleviate the pressure.
“People who come along are grateful for the food and they do stay, have a chat and our volunteers are enjoying helping people because they love to give back to the community.”
Mount Gambier’s Sunset Kitchen is open Monday and Wednesday from 6pm until 6.30pm at its Frew Park facility.
Salvation Army Thrift Shop hosts its sausage sizzle on a Friday between 5.30pm until 6.15pm at its Gray Street store.
