You might be reading this whilst devouring a toastie before work, sinking your teeth into your mother’s home-cooked deliciousness, or sitting with a cuppa and eying off that last Tim Tam.
If the uncomfortable thought of when your next stomach filler is coming, aside from the one you missed last week just because you were too busy to fill your pie hole, fortunate you are. For others, it is not so.
With all our hip pockets ready to swallow cash in exchange for food, sadly that same hip pocket in the pants of some Westies holds enough to get by, but only just.
Soaring rental payments, unemployment, a flimsy pension, and high costs of living, make filling one’s pantry and fridge a challenge. Today. Now.
My mother is a woman of few words. When she does pipe up about people’s hardships, her words ring loud. She once said that no matter what one’s day brings, bleak, challenging or wearying, we should all be able to put food on the table. Duke Street Community House’s Food Relief Program, located at Central West Shopping Centre on Ashley Street in Braybrook, gives struggling residents the opportunity to do just that.
In response to the pandemic and the associated ongoing cost of living crisis, it has been onsite since 2020. Each week, more than 2,000kg of food is distributed, including fresh and frozen meals, pantry staples, bread and fresh produce. There are over 375 registered service users with new attendees presenting every week. Those who turn up often represent a household of up to six people. At the lowest estimate, this service feeds 200-300 community members weekly. This means, on a yearly basis, around 200,000 to 400,000 meals are provided to those living in postcodes 3012, 3019, and 3020.
My stomach turns at the mere thought of anyone going without food. I am not oblivious to the fact that hunger comes with poverty, conflict, climate change, and natural disasters. I often do not associate living in suburbia with residents, possibly your neighbour, going hungry. Having a roof over your head does not equate to having food in your kitchen. Thankfully, food relief programs like Duke Street Community House’s exist for local families in need.
Their Food Relief Program currently provides a respectful, dignified market-style food service. Despite intense advocacy efforts, it has been unfunded by any level of government since mid-2023. It runs at a financial loss, eating into its own savings to ensure no-one in our community goes hungry.
The lack of available government funds means it relies heavily on community financial donations. With the effort of a remarkable team of volunteers and placement students, the program is supported by Central West Shopping Centre, Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) and Sunshine Lions Club. It receives food donations from Central West Bakery, Water For All, Yarraville Community Centre, Dai Loc Quan Restaurant, other local businesses, and by purchasing food from Food Bank.
Despite its challenges, Duke Street Community House Manager, Emma Price, talks of her team and volunteers with gratitude. “I am proud of the service we offer and never fail to be impressed by the commitment and compassion of our team of volunteers and project coordinator. The team does an amazing job. In fact, we are award-winning.”
However, she also recognises the reality. “Our team shouldn’t need to exist. Food insecurity is a systemic issue that shouldn’t rely on the kindness of strangers, or the generosity of community donations and volunteers.”
No-one should ever feel pain in their stomach from hunger. But if you ever do, chances are your local community will step up to make sure your plate is not left empty.
