By Mitchell Clarke
Kelly Warren and her family have been providing free food and clothes to those in need for over two years but the City of Casey has told them it’s time to move on and operate elsewhere.
Operating out of their Narre Warren carport, Ms Warren has built strong connections with the number of people who utilise her service, stating it’s something she’s done for years and would hate for it to cease now.
“These are families, mothers with children, pensioners, they’re normal people, I would love to keep this local because I just love this community,” Ms Warren said.
“That’s why I don’t want to move, these people come from public transport, they catch a bus here, and I don’t want to let them down.”
But she might be left with no choice, being forced to scope out the suitability of other locations, meaning the 100 odd people who rely on her service will be left looking for other alternatives to put a meal on their tables.
“Look, if there’s a space nearby, we’d be crazy not to take it,” she explained.
“I’d just love to have a council that supported us and our work.”
In a statement, the City of Casey said they appreciated the assistance that Bk 2 Basics provides to vulnerable members of our community.
But despite this, they say conducting warehousing and distribution services from a residential premise which does not meet the Casey Planning Scheme requirements.
“Planning Officers have therefore requested the organisation seek alternative premises to undertake their activities from,” the statement read.
“The City of Casey provided an additional two months (until 29 August) from the original notice advising Ms Warren that she is in breach of planning regulations, for Bk 2 Basics to seek an alternative location.”
There had been rumours circling that Ms Warren’s charity was causing disharmony among her neighbours, leading to complaints to council, however she was quick to shut down the speculations.
“I love where we live and I love our neighbours, I wouldn’t move from here – it’s not often you have the relationship that I have with them,” she said.
All of her neighbours volunteer regularly with Bk 2 Basics, with the exception of two who regularly use the service as a way to eat.
“I know it’s not my neighbours complaining, why would they want to shoot themselves in the foot?”
“People feel comfortable coming here because we don’t ask questions, I don’t want them to tell me why they’re here, I just want to help them,” Ms Warren added.
A petition to City of Casey to support Bk 2 Basics in caring for disadvantaged people was launched on Tuesday 30 July and has already garnered over 1200 signatures.
