By Eleanor Wilson
Thousands of dollars worth of food and goods will be donated to help refugee families in need, thanks to community donations to Casey Cardinia Libraries’ annual food drive.
Throughout the month of June $2800 worth of non-perishable food and goods were donated to drop off boxes at various libraries across Casey and Cardinia.
The libraries’ corporation partnered with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) Foodbank to provide refugee families in need with the donated goods.
Casey Cardinia Libraries chief executive officer Beth Luppino spoke of the contribution libraries make to fostering community connectedness.
“Public Libraries play an important role in the support of vulnerable communities, and sometimes that extends beyond traditional library services,” she said.
“ASRC is able to provide practical help to many people and we are proud to be a collection point for donations. I am continually amazed by the goodwill and care for others demonstrated by our Casey and Cardinia communities.”
In Australia, people with refugee status often have limited income and working rights, making them vulnerable to food insecurity.
ASRC Foodbank currently provides free groceries to around 1,000 people, most of whom have no income and no work rights. Around half of them are children.
