It’s been a manageable pandemic for local award-winning food-bank, FoodCare, but things are about the heat-up!

The local group was recently-recognised for its community spirit in the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns awards.

FoodCare chief Anne Hopwood (OAM) thinks though that the end of the special pandemic assistance could see a sudden need for their unique service offering fresh, frozen, packed, and canned grocery items free to about 120 locals a week in Orange.

“No it wasn’t too bad, a lot of people got JobKeeper, JobSeeker, but we are pretty sure we’ll see increased numbers; it could be up to 20 per cent more, something like that,” she added.

Volunteer Michael Horth said that the first few days after the end of JobKeeper had seen a slight rise in demand. “Today’s been quite busy. We’re a bit worried with the change in the job subsidies and the like; we don’t know what effect that will have,” he added. “Could be we’ll find-out after Easter.”

As well as their food service, FoodCare is also providing unique real-world experience for Charles Sturt University medical students, Jaydh Gounden from Orange, and Mikeely Kent from Inverell. “It’s part of our Medicine in Context program” Jadh explained.

“It shows us how medicine works in the community and how health is impacted by people’s diet and eating habits,” he added. “It gives us an overall understanding of health, it’s a really holistic approach.”

“This is a way of seeing how health impacts are in the community, instead of just being in the hospital,” Mikeely explained. “We’re also helping and interacting with people so it’s something that we’re very happy to have the opportunity to do,” she added.

FoodCare Orange’s win was in the “Community Spirit and Inclusion Award for populations over 20,000” with Wendy Fisher from Tidy Towns saying, “It’s a great award; Orange always does very well.”

“This award is recognition of the work of the 60 volunteers who provide an invaluable service here,” Orange City Council Tidy Towns Committee Chairman, Councillor Kevin Duffy said at the presentation of the award at the March St facility recently, adding that providing a foodbank for low-income individuals and families is only one string to FoodCare’s bow.

“It helps those that are struggling a little bit, not just with food, but also with human contact. It also provides a bus service for people to attend the place here,” he said.

Volunteer Allan Dive explained that the stacked shelves come from a variety of sources, large markets in Sydney, local contributors, and supermarket chains in Orange. “For instance, a lot of the donations in fruit come from individual people,” he said.

Ms Hopwood explained that the 17-year-old service works on a voucher system with charities like St Vincent De Paul issuing coupons which can then be redeemed at FoodCare.

“All the agencies either refer people or have our vouchers, but we only bill them for vouchers that are actually redeemed, not issued,” she explained.

“We also value-add to that voucher with two litres of milk, a dozen eggs, and a packet of frozen meat, so it’s actually worth a lot more,” she explained.

 “All fruit and vegies are also free, but they have to spend $8 here first.” She added that home gardeners are regular suppliers of fresh fruit and vegetables with donations always welcome.

“We love donations, if people are clearing-out their pantry, or anybody is moving house and with packet food they don’t want to take with them, bring it here!” she said.

Volunteer Sue Patterson returned during the media event with a shopping basket load of fresh, frozen, and packet food donated by one of the local supermarkets (Woolworths) in Orange.

“I go down there, and they give me what they can, they’re very helpful,” she said.

Client Garry — making the point that man does not live on bread alone — says that sustenance is only one major service that FoodCare provides the community: “I’m on the old-aged pension and it gets me out of the house to see other people, they’re great people here,” he said.

Opening hours for FoodCare at 142 March St are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10.30–1pm and also Thursdays from 4.30–6pm.

To find out more about FoodCare Orange and how members of the community can get involved, go to: www.foodcareorange.org.au