One of the Sunshine Coast’s leading community organisations will be able to provide more discounted food items to local families doing it tough and struggling to put food on the table.
Gateway Care will be able to double the size of its warehouse facility at Caloundra West, thanks to a $50,000 grant from Stockland Aura.
Gateway Care supports more than 1700 low income and vulnerable families each week.
It provides low cost or no cost groceries, emergency meals and access to a safe and welcoming environment where they can meet with local crisis care agencies.
Gateway Care managing director Tom Lew thanks Stockland for the vital funds, which support the organisation reaching more at-risk members of the Sunshine Coast community.
“The Gateway Food Distribution Centre is the largest food rescuer on the Sunshine Coast, with more than 40,000 kilograms of food rescued each week,” Mr Lew says.
The food comes from Foodbank Queensland, Second Bite, local supermarkets, and primary producers.
“These funds are making our dream a reality, converting our current 600 square metres warehouse facility to be upgraded to a 1500 square metre outlet.
“We have also been able to purchase new shelving and additional refrigeration units for chilled food storage to help meet community need.”
About 300 families a day are supported with food that Gateway has been able to rescue from supermarkets.
Gateway also offers low-cost groceries so that community members have access to essentials including fresh meat, fruit and vegetables.
“I love the Sunshine Coast and I hate to think that there are people that are doing it tough in our community,” Mr Lew says.
Mr Lew says Gateway Care was dedicated to connecting with people, and cared about community wellbeing.
“It is a magic feeling to see a person’s face light up when they receive a roast meat or a special treat in their groceries when they haven’t been able to feed their family with these ‘luxury’ items,” he says.
Stockland Aura Senior Environment and Community Development Manager Mark Stephens says he is delighted Stockland can help Gateway Care to reach more people.
“Gateway Care is a great example of a local organisation who is addressing the high cost of living, particularly with the current housing crisis,” Mr Stephens says.
“Gateway Care’s team and volunteers are doing a fantastic job in helping those facing challenging times, not only through the services they deliver but also by providing a safe and welcoming environment.”
For more information about Gateway Care visit gatewaycare.org.au.
Did you know?
The Stockland Aura Community Grants Program has so far delivered a total of $1.5 million in funding to community groups on the Sunshine Coast.
