By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A CHRISTIAN church last week launched a food bank from the new Hallam facility it relocated to in January.
Pastor Danny Nalliah is encouraging the under-privileged from the Casey community to register for the Catch the Fire Ministries food bank which is now being operated every Thursday from 10am until 2pm.
Pastor Nalliah said anyone in need was encouraged to register for the food bank, irrespective of religion.
“We constantly get people coming to church who are new migrants, people who still don’t have a proper visa, people in dire straits and these are the people we really wanted to cater to,” he said.
“We get a lot of people that aren’t Christian, whoever needs the assistance.”
With the help of suppliers, the team at Catch the Fire Ministries has organised crates of varied rations for families to have access to a food supply which lasts five to seven days.
Pastor Nalliah said close to 20 families had already collected supplies from the food bank.
“At this point in time, it’s still word of mouth; those that are coming are pleased to get a food supply,” he said.
On Australia Day weekend Pastor Nalliah officially opened Catch the Fire’s new premises at Star Crescent in Hallam, an existing church bought by the group last year.
The Hallam opening came after Catch the Fire withdrew its legal challenge in October against a proposed neighbouring mosque in what was slated to be its new base in Green Street, Doveton.
Pastor Nalliah said the food bank was one of several initiatives that Catch the Fire had planned for its new facility, with an on-site kitchen now in the works.
Casey Councillor Rosalie Crestani, a member of Catch the Fire Ministries, said the new food bank would help ease the load on other welfare groups in the municipality.
For more information or to register for the food bank, contact 9703 1620.
