ANYONE who has driven down Old Logan Road at Camira would have noticed a sign on the roadway saying, “Free Food”.
It sits out the front of the Camira Springfield Community Centre and it invites those in the district doing it hard to call in for help.
The centre has been run by Westside Community Care for the past 16 years and in that time they have reached out to thousands of families.
The free food sign mightn’t be important for many in the community, but for those who put their blinkers on and drive in five days a week it is a Godsend.
Pastor Phil Cutcliffe of the Springfield Christian Family has been the guiding influence behind the centre’s vital community work since his church charity arm took over the centre’s council lease in 2007.
He said that the pressure on families had increased dramatically over the past few years as food prices ballooned, rents increased and those with mortgages struggled to cope with numerous rate increases.
“We are relying more and more on local businesses and supporters to help us meet the demand.
“Up to 50 families call in daily five times a week so we can provide food for the table,” he said.
“We have great food business supporters, but we can always do with more especially if anyone can help us out with meat.
“Whenever we have any to giveaway, such as packages of sausages, we know our numbers will double that day.”
The centre’s Community Support Co-ordinator is Nohblee Gottani who formerly volunteered at the centre for a number of years.
“I came back to the Camira centre to help out as a way of showing my appreciation after they helped me through a difficult time in my life,” she said.
“When a chance came to do more as a co-ordinator I put my hand up because I know how much a centre like this is needed.
“The demand is constant and its increasing, hundreds of families are struggling, it’s even got to the point where a staple food hamper of $25 is now out of reach for many.
“That’s why we now do up $10 hampers.
“They consist of pantry items and each hamper would cost at least five times as much at the Coles checkout.
We supplement these with lots of free food items such as bread, frozen meals, fruit and vegetables.”
Nohblee echoed Pastor Phil’s call for more donations from retailers.
“We particularly need support as we get closer to Christmas,” she said.
“We have a big crew of regular volunteers, but we always encourage more to come along.
“It’s not just about helping it’s also about feeling connected, we want to build relationships in a caring social atmosphere where nobody is judged.”
“Everyone needs to feel valued and loved, they need to know someone cares.”
