By Brendan Rees
A Casey charity is working tirelessly to feed families as demand for support during the pandemic skyrockets.
Casey Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) café team leader Beata Stednik, who runs a food pantry from her Narre Warren North home, said her team were preparing up to 2000 meals per week for families and individuals – with an extra three deep commercial freezers purchased through donations to keep up with demand.
“We have come across families that were on white bread for weeks till they heard about Casey ADRA Café,” she said. “These are the stories that make our hearts skip a beat knowing there are people we were able to help out and who appreciate our efforts.
“Loss of jobs, not having the means to pay their mortgage forces them to seek help. Many are ashamed to ask for help and those that we are worried about.
“We had one of our lovely clients take her own life as she saw no way out from the situation. Being a mother of two and not having proper accommodation and not enough finances to put food on the table pushed her over the edge.
“We want to send a message to those families: We are all in it together and Casey ADRA Cafe as essential services is here to help you and no one needs to know about it.”
Ms Stednik said her food pantry also provided a delivery service for those in isolation or are unable to pick-up and every Thursday, registered clients were able to pick-up pre-packed food parcels of fresh and non-perishable products from the Casey ADRA Café.
“However, where there’s emergency we never say no and we prepare food as needed,” Ms Stednik said.
Those wishing to collect supplies from the food pantry are required to call to book an appointment.
People may also collect cooked meals at the Narre Warren Mechanics Institute (59 Webb Street, Narre Warren) every Sunday from 4pm.
For further information email ra@adventist.org.au or call: 0425 747 866.
For those needing help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
