An unexpected donation is having a big impact on the Forster community.
Just a couple of weeks ago CatholicCare was supported by Wiseberry Forster Real Estate’s Winter Food Appeal. As part of the appeal, they donated food to the region’s Community Care Pantry.
Community Kitchen Coordinator Sue Abdoo said it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“It is great to receive these unexpected donations from the community,” she said.
“They almost always turn up on our doorstep when we need them the most.
“In this case, our Community Care Pantry in Forster was nearly empty. The Pantry allows us to make up emergency food parcels for people in need. It operates on the basis that ‘we can only give what we receive.’
“With this donation from Wiseberry, we are now able to respond to individual’s requests to provide them with support when they need it the most.”
Over the past months, both the Taree and Forster Community Kitchens have experienced a 45% increase in the number of people needing to access our services.
According to Sue, there are few reasons people are needing more support.
“COVID has certainly had an impact, but the lack of affordable housing which brings about an increase in homelessness, the increase in the cost of living, and the recent flood events have all contributed to more people facing very challenging circumstances, and who are finding it harder to make ends meet,” she said.
Without support from the community, the team would not be able to keep helping those in need.
“They say: ‘It’s better to give than to receive’,” Sue said.
“Well, we can’t give unless we receive these kinds of donations.
“It is really a privilege, because the donors know that we will distribute their donations, on their behalf, to people who are genuinely struggling in the community.”
If you’d like to support CatholicCare, there are a number of things you can do.
“People can always make a financial donation to help us run the service and keep our doors open to the community. But apart from that, we are always looking for volunteers to prepare the meals, serve our diners, or help to collect our food donations each day,” Sue said.
For more information on how you can support our Community Kitchens, visit the CatholicCare website.