Story & photo Eve Jeffery
The State Food Bank is about to offer a branch in Mullumbimby at the town’s Uniting Church.
The Foodbank will offer a food box of household basics at a greatly reduced cost for anyone who receives a Centrelink or welfare benefit.
Food is delivered in pallets to local food banks for the cost the transport.
Shoppers need nothing more than their Centrelink card to register for the service and they pay a nominal fee for items to help cover the cost of delivery.
Far from being in opposition to local retail food outlets, the idea is to support and supplement those who are finding it difficult to provide necessary food for their family. John says that he hopes the food bank will allow patrons to have more money at the end of the day for other items that the food bank cannot provide, such as perishable staples.
Mullum food bank – together with the existing Byron branch – will operate on a Thursday as the Sydney facility dispatches to all the areas on the same day. The inaugural opening at the Uniting Church is planned for February 21.
A cup of tea or coffee will also be available during the foodbank mornings from 9.30am until 12noon.
For more information about Foodbank go to foodbank.org.au.
