By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
AFTER eight months of planning, Cardinia Combined Churches Caring (4Cs) opened a new facility in Cockatoo on Tuesday 27 January after the Cardinia Shire reported the highest levels of food insecurity in Victoria.
In a report by Anglicare Victoria conducted in May 2014, 9.4 per cent of people in the Cardinia Shire reported running out of food and being unable to buy it. The Cardinia Shire’s food insecurity is 68 per cent higher than the Victorian average and 74 per cent higher than the Metropolitan average.
4Cs manager Abiola Ajetomobi said the Cockatoo crisis relief centre helped four families on its opening day, giving them $300 worth of groceries.
“The four families will visit us fortnightly to get groceries and we will then do a review of their situation to determine how long they will be in need of the help,” Ms Ajetomobi said.
The centre is focusing primarily on food relief and free food for people who need it in the hills area.
“If you live in the Cardinia Shire, fresh bread, fruit and vegies are available,” Ms Ajetomobi said.
“This new location is very helpful for families who cannot afford the petrol to drive from Cockatoo and the surrounding hills area to the Pakenham 4Cs centre,” Ms Ajetomobi said. The centre is hoping to stay in Cockatoo for as long as possible and is in need of support from local businesses, community groups and sponsors.
“If we have to wait for a grant, we could be waiting a long time, we are looking for volunteers to help us with the program at Cockatoo,” Ms Ajetomobi said.
The Cockatoo centre is open every Tuesday, 10am to 1pm at the Community Health Centre, 16 McBride Street, Cockatoo.
