Cheap grocery initiative for those in need

WALKING into a room full of strangers and asking for help to put groceries on the table may well be among the hardest challenges facing those who are doing it tough.

But the volunteers at Vine Community FoodCare have worked wonders setting those minds at ease with warm welcomes,  offers of cups of tea as soon as you walk in, a chat and a friendly face or three.

Vine Community FoodCare is an initiative which allows low income families in the Yass Valley to access affordable groceries every week.

Coordinator Sharleen Bailey said the service was certainly addressing a need in this community.

“We may live in The Lucky Country, but there are people out there doing it tough,” she said.

“We have started this initiative to help families and individuals who are struggling to put food on their table.”

It launched on May 7  and operates every Thursday from 10am – 12.30pm from behind the Club House Hotel car park.

“In two weeks we already have 45 members, local families and individuals who are benefitting from our service,” Mrs Bailey said.

Families and individuals with a Centrelink benefit card can register at Community FoodCare for just $2 per financial year.

Food is categorised into a coloured-coded points system, and members can fill their hampers with whatever products they wish as long as their points add up to the hamper size they have paid for.

“Hampers start at $8 and members can self-select from a range of staple foods, cereals, pasta and personal items,” Mrs Bailey explained.

“The minimum purchase also provides members with access to free bread, fruit and vegetables.”

Grocery items are sourced through Foodbank NSW and local donors, including Yass Woolworths.

Mrs Bailey said the response from community members so far had been promising.

Vine Community FoodCare is part of a larger initiative that has been operating for six years and currently operates at ten locations across Sydney and NSW.  It is operated locally by Yass Vine Church.

“Yass Vine Church has been active in local community support activities for the past twelve years, including the annual Vinnies Blanket Run, free Christmas dinners and hampers, fundraising and emergency relief food,” says Gary Brown, Pastor Yass Vine Church.

“Community Foodcare seemed a natural next step to help meet the needs of those struggling in our community.”

Vine Community FoodCare is open to residents across the Yass Valley.

Volunteers who have been helping out at the Yass Vine Church’s FoodCare service. PHOTO: Katharyn Brine