OCTEC Limited is doing its bit to support struggling members of the community by donating $60,000 to emergency food services in Orange.
The local Vinnies Van, Orange Uniting Church hot meals outreach and FoodCare Orange all received $20,000 to help keep their volunteer-led services operating.
OCTEC was the gold sponsor of the recent Vinnies Community Sleepout, to support the Vinnies Van. The Van is an outreach service that shares fresh food and hot meals at four locations twice a week.
Orange Vinnies Van Coordinator, Keith Dowling said there has been an increase of 40% in demand for meals over the last few years, with demand steadily growing over this time.
“Sixty per cent of people who we feed are young families. The sandwiches are often saved for school lunches,” said Mr Dowling.
Another important aspect of these services is the companionship they offer.
“It’s not just about food, it’s about connection. A lot of people enjoy the chance to have a cup of tea and talk.”
Orange Vinnies Van Coordinator, Keith Dowling
“This is a chance for us to connect people to essential services in the community like St Vincent de Paul and others.”
Other services are HousingPLUS and Link2Home for those requiring temporary accommodation. People may be need to connect to Lifeline.
This is the same for the Uniting Church hot meals outreach program, with the volunteer team preparing and sharing 150 hot take-away meals for the community every Saturday.
“We couldn’t do it without the donations, our own financial resources at the church are pretty tight. So to do something else like this, we really do need support from outside the community. From a financial perspective about 80% of this project is contributed by OCTEC,” said Reverend Andrew Cunningham.
FoodCare Orange combines affordable grocery shopping with free healthy food, including fresh fruit and vegetables. It has grown from operating from one day to four per week to support more than 10,000 customers. It operates due to the dedication of its volunteers and the support of local businesses.
“FoodCare is one of those hidden gems making a massive impact in our community. It’s run by amazing volunteers and fulfils a critical need in supporting those doing it tough,” said OCTEC Board member Reg Kidd.
OCTEC’s values align with these organisations. It’s gratifying to see those who need help, getting access to healthy food and other basic needs. We also appreciate what volunteers offer to the community. Without them, these services wouldn’t exist.